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Dear Patient, I am your voice. I am here for you. I think about you when I am at home with my own family, on holidays, and sometimes when I am with other patients because I wonder how you are feeling today or if the medicine we have given you is going to work. I am willing to give you my cell phone number so that you can call me any time, any day, any where... because I do care. I know that you have used drugs, I know all too well how hard that is to overcome and I am not judging you. I know that you got a bad tattoo, or blood transfusion and you may feel anger and resentment. I know that money is tight and you may be late or miss appointments, I completely understand am willing to work with you. I know that you are scared and have a thousand questions, I will sit with you and answer every one if you will ask them. Just please remember you are not the only one with a thousand questions,and when we are running 30 minutes or an hour behind, try to be patient and courteous. Sincerely, Your Case Manager/Advocate I love my job, I mean REALLY love my job. It is such a rewarding and satisfying career path to be able to help so many who typically have zero expectations to come into our office and be able to talk to a healthcare professional and actually have them listen and engage! I am interested to know the experience others have when seeking treatment. What are some things that I need to be aware of when seeing patients for the very first time or at those subsequent appointments? Any advice from you guys to help me continue to grow learn and improve my care is greatly appreciated!
Thank you Elizabeth for your "Dear Doctor" letter. Sadly, it is one that many could write. I will say that I do know many physicians who work for very little money, and would gladly work for just an average income in exchange for being able to really make a difference -- the doctors who treat Ebola, or take out loans so they can help feed their patients, or those who devote their lives to inner city or rural patients. Yes, there are many, many kind healers.
Dear Doctor, Seeking medical care has become so traumatic for me that I wish I never had to seek out your care. Stop blaming "the system" because you are a part of it and, unless you plan on becoming an activist, it is difficult for me to have compassion for your lack of compassion for me as your patient, a person who has done her best to take care of her health and to support herself financially. I wanted to become a doctor at one point in my life. The scene was so competitive that, although I had the intelligence and talented hands, I couldn't possibly survive it while supporting myself financially. You have survived it. If you could survive it, you should have the strength to become an advocate for change. You are clear about the corruption, so do something about it. I'm just a poor patient who started out independent, thoughtful and supportive of others and your lack of support led to my poverty and took away my ability to nourish my body properly for many years while I lived in a homeless shelter. What was the primary motive in your choice to become a doctor? One of your motives may have been to heal, but would you have chosen the field if it didn't promise a good income and high esteem in the eyes of family and friends? Sincerely, Elizabeth Faraone
Matt Starr
Lucinda and All, I must be horribly difficult to be at odds with your gastroenterologist. It seems that larger hospitals must have a big gastro staff, and that one can keep seeking options until a good fit is found. This is not something I personally have had to deal with. I have a caring and empathetic doctor who knows me from my days teaching in the Hanover, NH elementary school, as do many of the doctors in the gastro department. It seems that I taught many of their kids as 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grader, so they have a soft spot for me. It is a nice feeling in the midst of difficulties. That is unusual though, and doesn't help those who do not get what they need for their doctor. I do think that if the patient acts as their own advocate in the quest of finding the right doc then they might have better luck. Surely just taking who is assigned to you and is unsatisfactory is not what anyone wants. If being sick makes self advocacy difficult, maybe a close family member of friend can help. You have a right for good care. Fight for it (but try to still be pleasant). Good luck to everyone!
April 9, 2015