The article “Insensible losses: When the Medical community forgets the Family” is very insightful of what surrounds the medical field. It is written by Pierre Elias, a medical student at the Duke University. He has been able to do extensive research on hospital medicine at the University of California. His experience and knowledge make him a competent author on the health profession as he has the theoretical and practical expertise necessary in medicine. It clearly illustrates the relationship between the health care providers and the patient and the trusts that exist among them. Under health provider and patient relationship two issues lead to its deterioration; first, it is the use of devices, as they lead to distractions amongst health professionals and secondly, the use of icons to represent patients. The rise of a patient-centered education will help mend this relationship, a theme raised in the article. A patient-centered education will also ensure that health providers now how to advice the family of the patient, when there is nothing that can be done to improve the condition of the patient when the only thing left is death.
Like any other professional field where there is an interaction between people, a good relationship has to be established. All the parties in the relationship need to feel that their needs are met. In the medicine world, there are three parties that exist; the health providers, the patients and the family of the patient. The patient needs to be given the appropriate care by the health providers. In turn, the health providers would want to be in a position where their advice and work is respected. The family wants the good of the patient. They wish to see him or her up and about again (Pierre 707-710).
During emergency cases, where the health of the patient suddenly drastically deteriorates transfers within the hospital are done. A patient who had been placed under the recovering unit may have to be transferred to the intensive unit with the doctors with whom their family had gotten used to change. In many hospitals, it takes a lot of time for the family to get any news during this transition. It may go for up to six hours. During this time, the family faces a very hard time. Not knowing what has happened to their loved one (Pierre 707-710).
According to an article written by Richetel, devices have invaded the medical world; bring a lot of good and some negatives at the same time. Doctors have embraced technology, making their work easier. Through computer and phone screens, they can easily go through a patient’s health record, drug information and do research in critical rare cases. Like any other field, technology has led to extensive accomplishments in the medical field
However he says the technology has also become a distraction. Health providers spend most of their time on screens and precious time, which could have been used to improve the lives of patients. Interaction between the health providers, the patients and the families of patients is lost. As the health, providers are deeply indulging in technology. Today, some doctors take personal calls while in the surgery room. Nurses are also distracted while they are supposed to be performing their duties. The internet is a major distraction. A doctor may log in to check a patient’s health history or case study, but get tempted to check their email or their social accounts. It might be disastrous as people’s lives are in danger.
The IPatient has also led to the loss of interaction between the patient and doctor. Doctors are now increasingly beginning to use an icon to represent the real patient, (Verghese 2748-2751). Bedside checks where the doctor personally checks the health condition of the patient is decreasing. More doctors prefer to use the icon to perform a diagnosis of the health of a real patient. These are deterioration in the health service provision. Healthcare does not only entail the provision of medicine, the doctor - patient interaction is important to form the whole package (Verghese 2748-2751).
During the interaction with the health provider, the patient can gain the strength needed for the recovery process. They can form a bond with their caregivers. Making the patients build trust with them. They are also able to ask questions where there is a need. The family of the patient also forms a relationship with the doctor, enabling the family to trust them with the life of their loved one.
According to an article written by Lerner, there are cases where there is no treatment or control to an illness, and the only possible solution remains to be dead. Humanly the family of the patient will result in different measures trying to save the life of their loved one. This at times results in longing the suffering of the patient. The medical futility movement fights for situations where doctors can prevent procedures, which only prolong the dying process of the patient. They believe that the patient should be left to die in a peaceful manner. Some bodies of thought suggest that the patient should go home and given appropriate care that will ease their pain, enabling them to die peacefully. All this would be possible by communication between the doctor and the patient's family.
An education curriculum that is patient-centered has to be developed. It will ensure that doctors get to interact with patients more, thus mending the broken relationship. Health care providers will get to understand and appreciate the use of patients. The use of devices and icons will decrease. Through this kind of studies doctors can learn how to communicate to the family of the patient. One of the cases they can communicate is when there is no possible solution to a condition. This communication will be made to the family of the family, an integral part in the doctor-patient relationship.
In conclusion, in the medical field communication is very crucial. There should be proper communication between the doctors and the patients and the doctors and the family of the patient. Proper relationships between all the parties involved will ensure that the health service is given to perfection, by providing a patient-centered education system.
Works Cited
Pierre, Elias. “Insensible Losses: When The Medical Community Forgets The Family.” Health
Affairs 34, 2015:707-710.
Verghese, Abraham. “Culture Shock — Patient as Icon, Icon as Patient”. The New England Journal of Medicine 26, 2008: 2748-2751.
Lerner, Barron. “When Medicine Is Futile.” The New York Times, September 2014. Web. April
21, 2015
Richtel, Matt. “As Doctors Use More Devices, Potential for Distraction Grows.” The New York Times, December 2011. Web. April 21, 2015.
