Who’s the Patient?
I just home from a 13-hour day in the CPEP. It was windy and cold outside, and that usually means more patients in the ED.
One case reminded me that it’s not always clear who the patient is. One example I recall is a mother who brought her child in for “misbehaving.” The mother was clearly manic and delusional, and the kid was fine. Who was really the patient?
Today I had a mother bring in her two daughters for evaluation. Her daughters were having some behavior problems, and likely needed therapy, but nothing serious enough to warrant an inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. However, she was clearly distressed. So, I spent more than the normal amount of time talking to her alone. I allowed her to vent. I validated her emotions. I handed her a tissue when she cried. I helped her to laugh. And at the end of the “session,” she thanked me profusely. Turns out she really just needed someone to listen and understand her life and stressors.
Today was also another good day for quotes:
From a patient’s mother: “No offense to you (nodding towards me), but my son ain’t no skinny white girl with anorexia!”
From the man who I always pass on the street outside the hospital when going to buy coffee: “WASSUP Lady Gaga..lookin good, baby!”
From a patient who I admitted: “I know you think I’m crazy, but the laser beams were really about to ionize my body…I don’t care what the NYPD says!”
It’s Saturday night, but I’m too tired to leave my apartment. It’s definitely a wine + movie night!
Photos: From my early morning walk to the subway.