Report of 21 Oct '07
Hello from Chennai -
So this is what medicine is like from a patient's point of view. Scott had surgery last week and a chunk of flesh has been removed from his most lower back along w/ a couple of abscesses. I tell you, hospitals are scary places: illnesses are threatening phenomena, one's mortality starts to stare one in the face, and multifarious uncertainties creep in. Imagine if financial woes set in at this time. My father would say, when Manu was hospitalised, about "aall balam," the strength of numbers - meaning that it was always nice to have company when tending to the ill, as any number of chores would have to be done. Yes, I would have liked the company, but had the cell phone and newspaper, and they were worthy substitutes. Vaishnavi, one of the B's founders, kept checking in on us and that was as good as a presence.
Scott was discharged after a day, and is home. I was really ticked at his company for refusing him a transfer to Chennai, when they have a branch here, and indirectly causing his staggering weight/health loss; I emailed his CEO and colleagues, and got very nice notes back. Would you imagine Bill Gates (Mr. Narayana Murthy of Infosys is of that status) emailing an employee's wife?
Here is what I want all med students and residents to know:
1. Hospitals are scary for the patient and family.
2. Even educated people ask stupid questions in this flustered state.
3. Sit down when you talk to the patient.
4. Don't ask for vitals at night - nurses came in almost every hour between midnight and 5 AM, asking Scott if he'd urinated. After said urination, which Scott forced himself to accomplish, there was a celebratory procession of nurses lauding the achievement. Rest at night would be nice, instead of a check of temp, BP, pulse, etc. My mother laughed on hearing our experience, and said that patients have been awakened in the middle of the night to take their sleeping pill.
5. Give instructions, med dosages, etc., in writing and go over it w/ the patient and at least one caregiver.
6. After discharge, see that the patient is permitted to leave in a reasonable amount of time. We stayed 4 hours after the surgeon said we could leave, due to paperwork, etc.
7. Establish follow-up appts clearly, and if the appt is w/ you, try to be on time.
That's all for now. The boys are well, and have loved having their father around. There were games of chess aplenty between father and sons yesterday. I do not have the patience for chess, much preferring basketball as a sport, and thus welcome Scott's hefty intellect. He consented to go w/ us for b'fast today, and I pigged out on sausage and eggs. Our challenge now is to have Scott gain weight, and I have taken a month off work to help dress the wound and tend to the patient.
Thanks aplenty to those who have emailed!
Unw -
R
So this is what medicine is like from a patient's point of view. Scott had surgery last week and a chunk of flesh has been removed from his most lower back along w/ a couple of abscesses. I tell you, hospitals are scary places: illnesses are threatening phenomena, one's mortality starts to stare one in the face, and multifarious uncertainties creep in. Imagine if financial woes set in at this time. My father would say, when Manu was hospitalised, about "aall balam," the strength of numbers - meaning that it was always nice to have company when tending to the ill, as any number of chores would have to be done. Yes, I would have liked the company, but had the cell phone and newspaper, and they were worthy substitutes. Vaishnavi, one of the B's founders, kept checking in on us and that was as good as a presence.
Scott was discharged after a day, and is home. I was really ticked at his company for refusing him a transfer to Chennai, when they have a branch here, and indirectly causing his staggering weight/health loss; I emailed his CEO and colleagues, and got very nice notes back. Would you imagine Bill Gates (Mr. Narayana Murthy of Infosys is of that status) emailing an employee's wife?
Here is what I want all med students and residents to know:
1. Hospitals are scary for the patient and family.
2. Even educated people ask stupid questions in this flustered state.
3. Sit down when you talk to the patient.
4. Don't ask for vitals at night - nurses came in almost every hour between midnight and 5 AM, asking Scott if he'd urinated. After said urination, which Scott forced himself to accomplish, there was a celebratory procession of nurses lauding the achievement. Rest at night would be nice, instead of a check of temp, BP, pulse, etc. My mother laughed on hearing our experience, and said that patients have been awakened in the middle of the night to take their sleeping pill.
5. Give instructions, med dosages, etc., in writing and go over it w/ the patient and at least one caregiver.
6. After discharge, see that the patient is permitted to leave in a reasonable amount of time. We stayed 4 hours after the surgeon said we could leave, due to paperwork, etc.
7. Establish follow-up appts clearly, and if the appt is w/ you, try to be on time.
That's all for now. The boys are well, and have loved having their father around. There were games of chess aplenty between father and sons yesterday. I do not have the patience for chess, much preferring basketball as a sport, and thus welcome Scott's hefty intellect. He consented to go w/ us for b'fast today, and I pigged out on sausage and eggs. Our challenge now is to have Scott gain weight, and I have taken a month off work to help dress the wound and tend to the patient.
Thanks aplenty to those who have emailed!
Unw -
R
posted by Renu Weiss at
4:55 AM
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