Hey guys, last week! Woo Hoo! Two weeks ago, i was patiently waiting for my patient to arrive when my supervisor warned me that my next patient may be a bit of a dosey (well she didn't actually say that but you get the point). Anyway he arrived and the first thing he said to me was "I have 45mins!" Wow, i thought even if i am deemed to be competent on this prac. my initial assessments should take me 1 hr, what the hell am i going to achieve in 45mins. My supervisor and the receptionist told me that they had told the patient when he made the appointment that it would take minimum of an hour so why would he rock up and state that he had less time than that! Anyway, we got started and i completed the subjective in record time and as i was about to leave the cubicle and talk to my supervisor he inquired if "i was aware of the time?" I stated "yes". Unfortunately his case was complicated and therefore my objective consisted of various things which took 25mins. As i finished the last PAIVM he got off the bed and said he had to go. I was shocked, becuase i hadn't even treated him, let alone diagnosed anything yet. I suggested to him that myabe a student clinic didn't suit his time contraints as, being a student i was unable to take short cuts. He responded by saying he worked here so it was convinient. I began to wonder, how could it be convinient if every week he could only spare 45mins, therefore restricing the treatment opitions available, as well as making it difficult to correctly diagnose. And how could he be satisfied if i hadn't even began to treat hom or told him what his problem was. Oh well i thought if you wanna come back next week, thats fine with me, it actually was a very interesting case.
One week later, im waiting for my patient to arrive, knowing i only have 45mins, so i had carefully planned, exactly what i was going to do.....and he DOESN'T SHOW!
I guess im getting a little frustrated at patients taking us for a ride, just becuase we are students. In my opinion we actually do a fantastic job and although we don't have every patient in and out in 20mins we are very thourough and usually get pretty good results. Just wondering if anyone else is feeling this way too.
Enjoy your last week and best of luck for your final assessments.
1 comment:
Hey Suanne! I know your pain! I had the same problem at Charlies musculo outpatients - I had a lady who worked at Charlie's so it was 'convenient' too. Only she'd turn up half an hour late and have to leave within 30 minutes. She'd also regularly cancel 20 minutes AFTER her appointment had started. It's a really tricky situation but we (when I say we, my supervisor did all the talking!) ended up telling her the student clinic was not suitable and she should find somewhere who work after work hours as her problem too was rather complicated and we needed time to treat her effectively. It sucks how they think it's ok not to turn up or cancel regularly just because we're students. It's an awkward thing but I think in the end you need to politely assert your authority so they know we can't be taken for granted just coz it's a student service!! Good luck for your last few days xxx
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