Empathy Reflection

Throughout the semester, we have learned about many patient interactions between physicians, pharmacists, and other health care providers. From this, I have learned that patient compliance is a major factor in achieving the best possible treatment for the patient. Additionally, while completing the empathy exercises, I was able to gain perspective from a patient 's point of view. As a patient checking my own blood pressure, I found that measuring my blood pressure was not as difficult as trying to decipher the numbers. While patients may understand that 120/80 is considered “normal/average” blood pressure, since that 's the only information that they are told, they may wonder what numbers would be considered high/low blood pressure and when

Consultations have been greatly neglected or loosely offered due to an increase in focus on profit in the business aspect. However, the greater consequence of earning more is the decrease in patient compliance, which will directly affect the patient’s health. In the empathy exercise “take your medicine”, the label directions states that I am suppose to “take 1 tablet by mouth every 8 hours”. While at the time of picking up the medication I may not have any questions for the pharmacist, this would be very different if, for example, I missed a dose. I wouldn’t know what I’m suppose to do or how it would effect my course of treatment. Additionally, what would be the effects if I took the medication in less than 8 hour intervals or in more than 8 hour intervals? What would be the side effects? Am I supposed to take it with or without food? These are only some questions a patient may have, but didn’t have the time to think about or ask at the pharmacy because there was just such a long line or since the pharmacist was just too busy. The patient may not even know what the medication is actually used to treat since the physician may not have gotten the chance to clearly explain it to the patient. This is why counseling patients is very important in allowing them to understand their own conditions and treatment methods. Having to take medications myself before, I have definitely been in these similar situations and not know what to do. This is why I have learned that there is no such thing as a “dumb” question for the patient to ask because he/she may actually just be unsure about the health condition or how the drug can affect his/her health. No matter which field of healthcare we may be providing for, as a healthcare professional, it is always important to put the patient’s health and safety first and to be readily available to answer the patient’s questions and concerns, since we are