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...
Although nurses do not wield the power of doctors in hospital settings, they are still able to effectively compensate for a doctor’s deficits in a variety of ways to assure patient recovery. Nurses meet a patient’s physical needs, which assures comfort and dignity Nurses explain and translate unfamiliar procedures and treatments to patients which makes the patient a partner in his own care and aids in patient compliance. Nurses communicate patient symptoms and concerns to physicians so treatment can be altered if necessary and most importantly, nurses provide emotional support to patients in distress.
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
Multiple patients in the film were returning patients – they had been seen within the week. This emphasizes the importance of having a primary care physician. Visiting the emergency department is necessary sometimes, but in situations where getting a prescription refilled, a referral to another physician, a follow-up appointment or a consultation about a non-life threatening issue visiting the emergency department is not the preferred choice. If patients decreased the number of visits to the emergency department for these types of situations; there would be countless benefits. The benefits for the patient would be less wait time, they would be in a better to
Until the year 1923 people who suffered from diabetes mellitus were incurable. There life could be shortened to weeks and no amount of oat cures, potato cures, or dietary constrictions could save them. There is only one known “cure” for diabetes and at the time it was yet to be found. In 1920 Doctor Frederick Banting a former University of Toronto graduate, and soldier, opens a clinic in London, Ontario. His life, at the time was falling apart, business was slow, he had very little money resulting in having to be supported by his girlfriends income, whom was considering leaving him, and money from his parents this resulted in plenty of embarrassment. However one cold fall night Banting had been lucky enough to be reading an article called “The Relation of the Islets of Langerhans to Diabetes with Special References to Cases of Pancreatic Lithiasis” by Dr. Moses Barron. The article talked about how the pancreas and islets controls the blood sugar levels in a human. After reading the article Banting had written “Diabetus. Ligate pancreatic ducts of dog. Keep dogs alive till acini degenerate leaving Islets. Try to isolate the internal secreation of these to relieve glycosuria” This vague idea sparked the discovery of what we now know as insulin.
Does your head hurt, does your body ache, and how are your bowl movements? After a head to toe assessments, touching and prodding, the physician writes up a prescription and explains in a medical jargon the treatment plan. As the short consultation comes to a close, it’s wrapped up with the routine “Please schedule an appointment if there are no signs of improvement”. This specific experience often leaves the patient feeling the “medical gaze” of the physicians. Defined by good and good, the medical gaze is the physicians mentality of objectifying their patient to nothing more than a biological entity. Therefore it is believed that the medical gaze moves away from compassionate and empathetic care, thus leaving patients feeling disconnected from their physicians. In order to understand how the medical gaze has stemmed into patient care, I begin with observations of a Grand Round, lectures for the progress of continuing medical education of physicians. There are expectations of physicians to be informed of cutting edge medical procedures and biotechnology since it can result in a less aggressive and more efficient treatment plan of patients. As I witness the resident physician’s maturation of medical competence in during a Surgical Grand Round at UC Irvine Medical Center, it has shifted the paradigm of the medical gaze and explains how competence is a form of compassion and empathy in patient care.
As the gap between reaching optimal medication therapy for diabetes management grows, so does the need for improved medical centers. But how does this happen? If pharmacists were to “utilize their clinical expertise in monitoring and managing diabetes medication plans to positively impact health outcomes and empower patients to actively manage their health,” then the number of people with diabetes could decline (Smith, 2009). Pharmacists are highly accessible medical professionals that are not used to their full potential (Smith, 2009). They are an essential component of the American health system that could easily educate patients struggling with diabetes (Shane-McWhorter, 2005). The implementation of pharmacist-managed diabetes clinics have been proven to lower the blood glucose levels of patients, cost of medication, and mortality rate of its’ patients.
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.
“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.
When I and my mentor arrived at a patient’s home with type 1 diabetes, my mentor informed me that I would be giving the patient her insulin.
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...
This report will outline a personal reflection that occurred during the hospital placement in October. A 78-year-old male patient, a local GP, with a medical history of type II diabete mellitus for thirty years and severe peripheral neuropathy presented at the high-risk foot clinic for a weekly routine treatment. He wears a pair of darco boots and presented with neuroischemic ulcers on both feet. As this patient was allocated for student to treat for the day, and I obtained the patient’s permission before the treatment began.
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...
In this article, the author openly questions whether it is a good idea to let high school or college students trying to pursue a medical career shadow physicians by sharing her personal experience and research results. She indicates that the physician shadowing tradition goes back more than 60 years and involves not only medical or pre-med student, but also high school teenagers (Kitsis, 2013). Although the author highly doubts the actual benefit from physician shadowing and the problem of patient privacy, I still think physician shadowing is a necessary activity for both students and the health system.
When it comes to patient care, veracity is a critical component as well as an ethical principle that should be used in every patient interaction. Patients have a right to be able to know all of the details pertaining to their situation and have involvement in the care they receive. These patients are in vulnerable states in their lives and being upfront with compassion is undoubtedly beneficial in the long run, especially in relation to the unequal power relationship that compels unavoidable trust in the nurse. I am able to personally support this issue in relation to both of my brothers being diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1. The honest and open care provided by the nurses in both of their situations greatly helped us overcome it which in turn had a great impact on the adjustment to the new lifestyle they were going to be