......and no visitors allowed!
The ward is a busy place not only for doctors and nurses but also for patients and their families. It is not an uncommon sight to see little children practising their shuttle run, up and down the aisle, screaming in delight.
"OOOhhhh, so cute, ah ma do you see boy boy running there. next time sure run for the country!" You hear a family member tell an elderly patient.
We try to be compassionate and allow family members as much time as possible with patients. We believe that strong family support will help in patient's recovery. But some families do take it to the extreme.
Sometimes the whole kumpung turns up for a gathering cum picnic. Indeed, a recent study done by Og et al found that wards were only second to the beach in being the most popular place for setting up tentage and having a BBQ. So the poor HO spent 15 minutes trying to maneuver pass the entire village only to find 15 pairs of curious eyes staring at him taking blood.
We also get those great pretenders. Some punk gets admitted and you see a whole group of youngsters by his bed.
HO: wah, cool helmets, you guys are bikers???
Friend of Patient: Yah la, actually bicycle-ers lah!
HO: oh..... anyway, there is too many of you, can the non family members please wait outside the ward first? I have something important to tell the family.
Friend of Patient: but we're all family man!!!
HO: Really? How are you related?
Friend of Patient: We all bbbrrruudders!!!! (He says proudly)
Wah lau, the hip hop hurray kind of brother don't qualify as next of kin, can?!!
There are also those who die die have to see the patients when the ward are closed to visitations for ward rounds. We restrict visitations to allow doctors the space and peace of mind to examine patients and decide management plans. Also, as beds are only seperated by curtains in non paying wards, visitors running around will mean compromising patient's modesty during examination. But some family members just can't understand.
Consultant seeing Bed 10: Hmmmm, we will first proceed with the CT scan and we should also make a referral to the surgeons.
A head suddenly pops up from no where: Hi doc, i'm the husband of Bed 12, can you tell me about her condition!!
Consultant shocked: Er mister visitors are not allowed now and we are in the midst of seeing another pt, but since you are here can you wait by the bed and I will talk to you in a short while.
A head: ok (and disappears)
Consultant now seeing Bed 11: Hmmmm, has the blood culture come back yet, HO make sure you trace it today.
The head appears again: Heh doc, you think its ok for my wife to eat ginseng? huh? huh?
Consultant: Mister, if you do not go back to the bed, i will call for security.
The head: But you gotta tell me now! I need to go home and cook the chicken ginseng soup!
But nothing can be more irritating than those little ones running around like the hospital is some playground. I really don't blame them coz the whole world is prolly just one big playground for them. Its the parents who fail in controlling their precious children. Don't they understand that patients are here to rest? Don't they know that the ward is full of danger? Don't say I didn't warn you coz the next time you kids run in the ward, Uncle Og is gonna give you a big injection in the ass!!!!
and on one occasion when i visited my dad, during visitation hours, one doctor spoke to another patient, who is next to my father, in full view of the other 2 pts LOUDLY, "Your sores doesn't seem to recover, I think you should have an HIV test" ! Its only after i glared at him, the dr, that he lowered his voice. I thot there is this thing called, Dr Pt confidentiality? What say you?
ReplyDeletei say you stick your fingers in your ears and pretend you din hear?
ReplyDeletehahs! cool reply to that. well, it's a open space, can't prolly expect us to whisper into the ear of the patient and relatives. it's so hard to make everyone happy. come on, it's time for people to put themselves in the shoes of healthcare professionals. we're trying to care & cure you're dear ones and yet, people love to provide excessive and unecessary work loads.
ReplyDeleteAh moi, in the first place the doctor was talking to the other patient and not your father. The ward is open anyway.
ReplyDeleteIf we doctors had to be discreet about everything we say in the ward, it would be impossible to work.
Also have you considered that perhaps the patient that the doctor was talking to was hard of hearing. There are many instances where patients have complained that I was shouting at a patient, only to realise that it was actually necessary because they had conductive deafness.
There are many circumstances and situations in the hospital.
The Dr patient confidentiality to me refers to intentional release of information about identified (name) patients to third parties.
If you do not know the name of the patient that the doctor was talking to, what is it to you? I feel you were merely more concerned that your father's neighbour in the ward could have been a HIV case than anything to do with doctor-patient confidentiality.
I HATE EM LITTLE UNS! RRROOOOOAAARRRRRRRR BARK BARK BARK!
ReplyDeleteI lagi hate parents who don't control the kids.
How are the others going to rest and recuperate when there's such din around? No wonder some patients are pretty grouchy man.
During some of these moments, I remember what it was like during SARS.
ReplyDeletedo u realise some of the patients stay longer with us? cos we are not dealing with only the patient, but so many invisible-tag-along-troubler seeker-problematic relative[s].. when the team makes round, the pt is always fine[always 'hau' when asked 'hau bo'?] Complaints only come in when the relative[s] is around, pain n sore n weakness n giddiness n what have they got?! Sigh!
ReplyDeletegreat observation. its important to understand the secondary gains from the illness. sometimes pt just want more attention from their love ones and only when they sick do they get that.
ReplyDeletemaybe you should tell those owners of running-around parasites that it's HOSPITAL! NOT MANDAI ZOO!
ReplyDeleteAnother irritating shit is different relatives/friends/concerned kepos who wants to be updated/kepo about the patient's condition at different times on different days. Hello, what's with u all?! pissed man.
The following is based loosely on a possibly true-life incident...
ReplyDeleteDoc: Could you please wait outside, I need to examine your mum.
Son: Why? Cannot stand around is it?
Doc: I'm sorry, but visiting hours are over and the patients really need privacy and rest. You may come back again once we're done examining her.
Son: What privacy? She's my mother. I'm paying for her stay here!
Doc (getting agitated): Sir, we hope you'll understand. The staff needs space and time to look after all the patients.
Son: Why? You scared not skilful enough is it? Why cannot let me see? Got something to hide?
Doc (really agitated now): Sir, please leave the ward or we'll have to call security.
Two days later the healthcare group's CEO calls in the doc & shows him a letter...
Dear Mr CEO, I would like to make a complaint against a incompetent & rude doctor who prevented me from visiting my mother...
End of story.
No morals here, make your own judgment call.
after years of such nonsense, I have learnt to do three things:
ReplyDelete1) keep cool, be even more polite.
2) get a witness.
3) document clearly in case notes: POLITELY INVITED SON TO WAIT OUTSIDE BUT SON SAID "KNNBCCB"
But this is the breakdown of trust between the patients/relatives and doctors.
ReplyDeleteAnd in medicine this trust is actually important. We cannot function well if there is suspicion everywhere. Unfortunately those are the realities today.
PM LHL talked a bit about this in his good customer good service provider = good service. Two hands to clap.
Singaporeans' attitudes stink. I cannot say with pride that I am proud of the country's people. In fact I am very ashamed and turned off.
The 2-visitor-per-patient rule should have been retained. I hate seeing kids run around generally, what's more in a HOSPITAL!!! *slap slap slap*
ReplyDelete