Physicians should not tolerate racism from patients

It’s 7 a.m. We sit down around a table in the physician’s lounge to discuss and our patients.  I am a general and critical care surgeon.  Every fourth week I’m “on service” for the ICU.  This is my week. I was off over the weekend.  I’m refreshed and ready to go.  I’m excited.  I enjoy the challenge of taking care of critically ill patients. I get sign out from my partner.  It was a busy week for him.  He is happy to be handing over the service. A patient was recently admitted to the ICU after a serious trauma that required an emergent operation.  He is on the vent and is sick.  There are other sick patients in the ICU, but he needs the most immediate attention. Multidisciplinary rounds start at 9 a.m. with this patient.  I found it odd that no family member had been by to see this patient.  As my week went by, this patient was slowly improving. Still, there was no family, no one showed up to see him.  Our social worker was trying to find a next of kin, a parent, sibling, anyone that may know him.  Nothing.  We were approaching the end of the week.  Despite his injuries, he had youth on his side. He was improving. I was feeling optimistic about him.  He gets extubated.  Sunday he gets transferred out of the ICU. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Physician Critical Care Surgery Source Type: blogs