- Discuss how Mr. Davis’s loss of sight is affecting the way he treats others and is treated by them?
As a front liner of the health care industry, it is my responsibilty to assist the patients and the doctors. Knowing that Mr. Davis is old, has poor eyesight, and haven’t been to a doctor for quite some time, I would welcome and assist him as soon as he enters the clinic. I would greet him warmly with a smile and introduce myseld to him. Then I will guide him to a seat as I let the doctor know that the patient has already come. I would make sure that he is comfortable by offering him something to drink as he waits for the doctor. Since he may also need to fill out a patient chart, I will assist him and read to him what information he needs to provide and where to write his answers. Should I need to do something or go somewhere, I will assure him that I will be back and let him know that he can call for me if there is something he needs. When he is summoned by the doctor, I would also assist him to the doctor’s office and again when he is ready to leave. Mr. Davis’s poor eyesight is causing him a lot of trouble and by giving him all the assistance that he needs, I hope to make his visit at the clinic easier. Moreover, by showing him genuine warmth, I hope to discourage his distrust of people in the medical practice and the people around him.
- Discuss why cataract surgery would be scary to Mr. Davis and what Dr. Hsing and his staff could do to ease his apprehension.
In general, the need for surgery alone causes stress and anxiety among patients, regradless of the planned surgical procedure (Bailey, 2010, p. 446). For someone who has mistrust issues with medical people developed from losing a loved one, the idea of submitting himself to a surgery may be very unnerving. Literature written by medical ethicists and patient advocates states that the best way to reduce patient anxiety is to show empathy and compassion to the patient (Fogarty et al., 1999). Dr. Hsing and his staff may keep a smile on their face to make Mr. Davis welcome. During the discussion of the procedure, Dr. Hsing may speak calmly and softly but with enough conviction to convey that he knows what he is saying. As Mr. Davis is already in his advanced years, Dr. Hsing may also use simple language to make his patient understand everything easily. This way, Mr. Davis will be encouraged to ask questions or clarifications as well. The staff can express sympathy through nonverbals such as a warm smile and compassion on their face. They may also offer water or something to drink in order to make Mr. Davis feel at ease.
- If Mr. Davis does not go ahead with the surgery, what help might he receive from an agency for the visually impaired? What groups might be available to help him deal with his grief and depression?
Should Mr. Davis decide to forego the surgery, he may get in touch with state agencies specializing in blindness and visual impairment all over the country help people with visual problems get vocational rehabilitation and jobs, financial assistance or referrals to other agencies or organizations that also offer the same services, orientation and mobility training, and transportation. There are also state Agencies on Aging that may provide people of Mr. Davis’s age assistance and information about senior centers and day care programs, in-home services, advocacy and protection, health care, Medicare counseling, legal counseling, legal matters, transportation and other supportive programs. The American Macular Degeneration Foundation, Inc. developed a directory of the said state agencies that Mr. Davis can get in touch with. Studies show that depression is frequently a result and serious complication of visual impairment among older people (Casten and Rovener 2009). Mr. Davis’s display of frustration about losing his wife, his job, and possibly his car which represents his independence may eventually lead to depression when his eyesight continue to degenerate. To help him get over the possible depression that he may experience, Mr. Davis can get assistance from agencies that provide a variety of counseling and support options such as the Braille Institute, the Rose Resnick Lighthouse, and the Society for the Blind.
References
Bailey, Laila (2010). Strategies for decreasing patient anxiety in the perioperative setting. AORN
Casten, R. & Rovner, B. (2009). Depression in age-related macular degeneration. National
Institue of Health Public Access, 102, 591-599. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792986/.
Fogarty, L.A., Curbow, B.A., Wingard, J.R., McDonnell, K., & Somerfield, M.R. (1999).
Can 30 seconds of compassion reduce patient anxiety?. Journal of Clinical Oncology,17, 371. Retrieved from http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/17/1/371.full.
