I have known since I was a child that I wanted to be a physician. During my undergraduate years, I worked for an endocrinologist and volunteered as a diabetes educator at a clinic for the medically underserved. I learned a great deal about medicine with a specific focus on diabetes. I quickly came to notice a commonality among the patients seeking medical management of their chronic diseases. Patients did not present with an acute problem, but rather to have patches placed on their existing chronic conditions. In fact, many patients came in for routine care but had no interest in improving their health. I rarely felt satisfaction in the sense that a patient’s life changed during a single office visit. Unfortunately, I became frustrated with not seeing short-term results. One afternoon I had an eye-opening experience while accompanying the endocrinologist to the emergency department to see a patient in diabetic ketoacidosis. Captivated by the critical care management of this case, at last I saw immediate improvements occurring; thus, that day my interest in emergency medicin...
During the year 1889, two researchers, Joseph Von Mering and Oskar Minkowski, had discovered the disease that is known today as diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the insulin levels (a hormone produced in unique cells called the islets of Langerhans found in the pancreas) in the bloodstream are irregular and therefore affect the way the body uses sugars, as well as other nutrients. Up until the 1920’s, it was known that being diagnosed with diabetes was a death sentence which usually affected “children and adults under 30.” Those who were diagnosed were usually very hungry and thirsty, which are two of the symptoms associated with diabetes. However, no matter how much they ate, their bodies wouldn’t be able to use the nutrients due to the lack of insulin. This would lead to a very slow and painful death. In 1922, four Canadian researchers by the names of Frederick G. Banting, Charles H. Best, John J.R. MacLeod, and James B. Collip had discovered a way to separate insulin in the pancreas of dogs and prepare it in such a way so that it can be used to treat diabetic patients. In the year 2008, there were 1,656,470 people who suffered from diabetes in Canada, and by 2010, it is predicted that this disease will take over the lives of 285 million people . Although there is no cure for diabetes, the treatment of prepared insulin is prolonging the lives of diabetics and allowing them to live freely. The discovery of insulin was important and significant in Canada’s history because Banting was a Canadian medical scientist who had a purpose in finding a treatment for diabetes, its discovery has saved lives and improved the quality of life of those suffering from this disease, and it showed the world Canada’s medical technology was ...
Dr. Jey Arthur, of Sutter Memorial Hospital, is an idol when it comes to physicians within a hospital’s Emergency Room. During his shift, the entire atmosphere of the Emergency Room changes. Nurses become more interactive with their patients and the patient’s rooms are no longer filled with misery and hopelessness. From the second the patient is assigned a room, Dr. Arthur is constantly visiting keeping the patient well informed and up to date on what the physicians and nurses are doing and their progress. From my time shadowing Dr. Aurther, not a single patient had lost a smile when he left the room. Beyond the care of the patient, Dr. Arthur has established absolute order with those working in the Emergency Room. Dr. Arthur has made himself
Practicing in the medical field is a respectable profession, since its main goal is to help others when they are in need. Although, I’m not sure of what job I will have, I do know that it will be in the field of medicine. I hope through the mentoring program I will be able to decide if a Certified Medical Assistant is the job for me.
health care team who, with doctors, provide quality care to patients. In order to do that,
According to the Hippocratic Oath, which every physician must take, each physician is expected to deliver the form of care which she considers most beneficial to a patient's health. There are a few minor stipulations guiding treatment by a physician, but for the most part, doctors have much liberty in choosing a regimen for a particular patient. If we look only at the Hippocratic Oath as the governing body of a physician's actions, then we must admit that no doctor is obligated to broaden his views and seed treatments with which he is not already familiar. However, every year doctors are required to fulfill certain requirements in continuing educatio...
In the medical community there appears to be a divide between disease-centered care and patient-centered care. Both Charon and Garden, readily acknowledge this. Charon explains how although doctors can boast in their “impressive technical progress,” and “their ability to eradicate once fatal infections,” doctors often lack the abilities to recognize the pain of their patients and to extend empathy (3). Charon further adds that “medicine practiced without a genuine and obligating awareness of what patients go through [empathy] may fulfill its technical goals, but it is an empty medicine, or, at best, half a medicine” (5). Often, doctors fail to remember that their patients are more than just a person with cancer or a congenital heart defect — they are human, a whole person with dreams, aspirations, and fears. According to Charon, “scientifically competent medicine alone cannot help a patient grapple w...
The World Health Organisation (2008), has found that on average one out of every two patients believes that doctors rarely or never ask their opinions concerning their treatment options which leads to duplication of care and patients consulting various healthcare providers for the same or related conditions. This lack of communication and collaboration between healthcare providers and patients can leave patients uncertain as to where to turn to for help due to the. This may be a particular concern for patients with complex conditions such as diabetes as they require the expertise of many types of healthcare providers, which may include, a diabetes educator, dietitian, nutritionist, physiotherapist, endocrinologist, podiatrist, optometrist/ophthalmologist, counselor and or exercise physiologist, this list may be more extensive based on each individuals needs. Some of the mentioned healthcare providers are intertwined and in some instances their knowledge may overlap with another healthcare provide who may traditionally use similar types of kn...
During one of my rotations, I was assigned a young adult patient who had run out of insulin and had been admitted to the hospital following a Diabetes Ketoacidosis (DKA) episode. I realized that my patient was probably torn between buying insulin and buying healthy food because her chart showed several admissions in the past following the same problems. This particular patient was in her room, isolated in a corner, and she was irritable. As her student nurse, I was actively involved in her care; I was her advocate for the day. The patient lived with her single mother and worked at a fast food restaurant. Since this was my first time dealing with a patient with DKA, it became a definite challenge for me.
Emergency room physicians are on the front lines in a crisis, caring for everyone from trauma victims to sick kids. An ability to think quickly and care for a wide variety of patients makes them valuable assets at every hospital. It also brings some perks. When sudden illness or acute injury strikes, patients turn to hospital emergency rooms for immediate medical assistance. An ER doctor, or emergency medicine specialist, is a physician who diagnoses and treats illnesses and injuries in a hospital emergency room or other urgent care setting. Emergency medicine is a financially rewarding career, and it also comes with the reward of saving lives. ER doctors require intensive training to know how to shoulder their intensive responsibilities.
I wonder what images are going through your mind right now. Most of you are probably thinking “no sugar, injections, diets, doctors.” You’re right, mostly. Pre-med students have it down to a science; some of them even have the nerve to try explaining it to me. I may not know all the details, but I know what they feel like. I have heard just enough horror stories to scare me away from reading up on my own illness. Yes, I realize the stupidity of this rationalization, yet almost every person I talk to about my fears seems to have the same story to tell me: “I had an aunt who had diabetes, but she didn’t take care of herself. She went blin...
“The Doctor” presented interesting and emotional concepts accurately representing the philosophies and behaviors of many medical professionals. Perhaps its viewing would be beneficial by members of our medical community, and provide a framework to the personalization of patient care.
I was able to gather the wealth of knowledge that Lisa Sanders communicates in “Every patient tells a story”. This knowledge I speak about is beyond just “book knowledge” it is wisdom expressed in the words and through the eyes of the medical professionals and their patients. Even though this book had many lessons to offer, the key recurring theme/lesson/concept that is constantly communicated is the importance of a properly executed diagnosis. In the vivid description of the pain and suffering experienced by the patient, Cryst...
Nonetheless, the complications to the improvement in chronic care can be categorized into three comprehensive classifications. The first is the general problem of fluctuating the behavior of clinicians, further complicated the circumstance of chronic care by the diversity of clinicians involved in
We are taught in medical school how to care for individuals. These are important lessons we should not forget. However, I came now to understand that there are many examples where both the problem and solution lie outside the physician’s office; it was very frustrating that I was not able to conduct the medical care I learnt and I was aspiring to do. smoking; obesity; heart disease; consanguineous marriages; war; refugees; poverty and violence.
The aim of the 2 week placement was to aid us familiarize and expose us to the wards before we start our actual 8 weeks placement. During my 2 week introduction to practice, I worked in a hospital on a medical ward preferably known as ward 1 and most of the patients were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes. Non-insulin dependent diabetes develops when there i...