Sometimes I Feel Like a Piece of Bologna

Hospital Duty -- Part 4 Dealing with Doctors

My goal is to talk to every doctor on the case at least one a day. In the hospital system Sis and Mom are in, a hospitalist has primary responsibility for inpatients, with specialists being called in as needed. I’m usually able to get the hospitalists to agree to come while I'm there since they are in the hospital all day. Specialists, on the other hand, are coming from their practices and they come when they come. However, I would tell each one when I expected to be there and many have accommodated me. I keep a list of questions for each provider so I can use their time efficiently. By being the constant voice for the patient, I find that most physicians not only work with me, but even appreciate my participation as long as I don't try to do their jobs for them. Again, the patient is usually too sick to ask good questions or remember what’s said. They need an advocate who is tracking for them.

Photo Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons/Yuya Tamai

Labels: advocate, doctor, hospital, physician