What Frederick Douglass can teach us about health care

“I’ve done this thousands of times. If you do not intubate him, he will die quickly. I’m a pro, but I don’t have all night: either decide to let me do my job, or he dies. But remember, he could die while I do the procedure as well.” These were the words that echoed around a group of five siblings, a spouse and ten grandchildren, all lost in the chaos of an abruptly ill grandfather. The children had medical questions, the spouse legitimate concerns, and all the resident could do was spill his rote phrases. Every ten minutes, he would intrude on a sensitive family conversation with a blunt statement: “It’s getting late, I’ve done this a thousand times, if you don’t do it he will die, but if I do it he could die also, it’s a grim scenario.” He then went back to laughing as he scrolled through his Twitter feed — literally. Initially, I figured he was perhaps in his fourth year of residency, had proficient expertise and was just ill-trained at proper bedside manner. Working in the health care field and having witnessed this scenario 100 times over, I pulled him aside to remind him: these people are in shock, have some sensitivity or get another resident on the case. He barked back with indignation. 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: Policy Public Health & Source Type: blogs