I can't help but feel this is particularly important for those of us in control. With the degree of separation we have from our patients suffering (often we don't actually ever even speak to the patient) it's easy to being to see them as simply a list of complaints.
Mrs Jones is not a "female fallen with hip injury" though that's often how we see her, as another job.
Hopefully it's a little easier for crews to see the person.
Too true. I can tell you about more calls where the patient has said "thank you", not for the oxygen, or the splint that I have given them, but the hands that I've held and the stories that I've listened to. That kind of medicine is truly healing medicine; the kind of medicine that heals people, not patients.
Funny you should mentioned that....I just wrote a post about something like this not too long ago. The call has actually been in my head for a long time. I just never got the time to sit and write about it. I'd like to believe that I'm good at treating people, not just patients. But, to be honest with myself, I probably do sometimes let the patient/medical problems get in the way of treating people. That being said, I think I also have a handful of calls where I think I really made an impact on that person's life, because I treated the human being as a whole: mind, body, spirit, etc.
Anyway, great post, as short as it was. I think its inspiring a tangent for me, which might develop into a post. Thanks a bunch!
4 comments:
I can't help but feel this is particularly important for those of us in control. With the degree of separation we have from our patients suffering (often we don't actually ever even speak to the patient) it's easy to being to see them as simply a list of complaints.
Mrs Jones is not a "female fallen with hip injury" though that's often how we see her, as another job.
Hopefully it's a little easier for crews to see the person.
That is a very good thought too, I am sure a lot of other medical professions would do well to remember that thought too. Xx
Too true. I can tell you about more calls where the patient has said "thank you", not for the oxygen, or the splint that I have given them, but the hands that I've held and the stories that I've listened to. That kind of medicine is truly healing medicine; the kind of medicine that heals people, not patients.
Funny you should mentioned that....I just wrote a post about something like this not too long ago. The call has actually been in my head for a long time. I just never got the time to sit and write about it. I'd like to believe that I'm good at treating people, not just patients. But, to be honest with myself, I probably do sometimes let the patient/medical problems get in the way of treating people. That being said, I think I also have a handful of calls where I think I really made an impact on that person's life, because I treated the human being as a whole: mind, body, spirit, etc.
Anyway, great post, as short as it was. I think its inspiring a tangent for me, which might develop into a post. Thanks a bunch!
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