All That Glitters is Gold
“There’s a lady who’s sure
All that glitters is gold
And she’s buying a stairway to heaven ”- Led Zeppelin, “Stairway to Heaven”
I just got home from the hospital. I was on call today in neurology. It’s 9:00 p.m. and I am quite pleased to be home not too unbearably late. I’m tired, but not brain-life-sucked.
The interesting thing about being on call for the “floors” in neurology is that my duties mostly involve putting out fires and talking to families.
I ordered STAT doses of medications. I made sure patients had labs drawn and followed up with consults.
But perhaps most importantly, I talked to patients’ families. I plan on writing an actual post/article on this topic. And I promise to do so soon. But the gist is that I’m starting to realize the importance/significance of speaking to families. I had to answer questions tonight from family members such as:
- Did my father have a stroke?
- Will my mother ever awake from her coma?
- Why is my father choking on his feeding tube?
- What is a seizure? Will it happen again?
- Can you please get me diaper so I can change my sister?
- Is it cancer?
- Will my mother be able to walk again?
Some answers are obviously more difficult than others.
But I pride myself in answering the questions of loved ones succinctly and sensitively, no matter what they are.
I’m in love with the challenging yet delicate nature of my job as a doctor.
I really am.