45 Urgent Care’s Post

Trust your doctor's advice—it could save a life. I remember this one time in medical school. We had this chubby little boy admitted with severe diarrhea. He'd been in the ward just one day when his parents decided to take him home against medical advice. His condition wasn't good, and his IV line had come out. His veins collapsed due to dehydration, making it hard to secure another line. But his mom didn't want him to go through another needle stick. Home again, the boy continued having diarrhea and wasn't drinking enough to replace lost fluids. He became so lethargic he couldn't sit up. Mom rushed back to the hospital, carrying him in her arms. Traffic was heavy, and by the time they reached the emergency room, he had already passed away. As doctors, we strive to do our best for our patients. We understand parents don’t want to see their children hurting, but sometimes the situation is more complicated than it seems. Collapsed veins and difficult IV lines are challenging, but treatable. However, we need parents to trust us. We never want to harm your kids. In difficult situations, having that complete trust can make all the difference. Next time your doctor advises something, think twice before dismissing it. Trust is a two-way street. For the sake of your loved ones, trust your healthcare professionals. 🤝 Let's work together for better health outcomes. Have you had a similar experience? How did trust play a role? Share your thoughts!

Have you ever experienced medical gaslighting? I want to hear your story. Medical gaslighting happens when a doctor dismisses, downplays or invalidates your health concerns. They may say your symptoms are "all in your head" or "just stress." Sadly, this happens all too often and the impacts can be devastating - delayed diagnoses, prolonged suffering, trauma and self-doubt. If you have experienced medical gaslighting, please share your story below. Let's break the culture of silence and support each other. You deserve to be heard. Your pain is real. I would love to know: What symptoms were dismissed? How did it make you feel? Did you get a second opinion or find a more supportive doctor? What would you tell others who have been gaslit by the medical system? By sharing our stories, we can educate others, advocate for change, and make sure no one else feels alone in this struggle. Our voices are powerful. https://lnkd.in/gDnKJTkk or link in bio! • • • • • #drpingel #redefineyourhealth #naturopathicmedicine #naturopath #healthyliving #healthylifestyle #naturalwellness #healthandwellness #bewell #healthiswealth #wellnessjourney #healthtips #gaslighting #gaslightingawareness #gaslightingisabuse #medicalgaslighting #patientcare #consult #consultation #consultations #medicalcare #doctorpatient #minmize #minimizing #propercare #treatments #treatment #gooddoctor #healthprofessionals #doctorcare

Imagine walking into a clinic and seeing these signs: “Welcome to Our Clinic: No Judgment Here  We’re here to support you, not to judge. No one is perfect, and that’s OK. We just want to help you stay healthy in a way that works for you.” “This Clinic is a: NO-SHAME ZONE  We promise not to lecture you or make you feel bad about your choices.” “We Won’t Judge You for: Being Human  Feel free to share openly with us: how much you really drink, that you don’t enjoy exercising, or if you’re struggling with medication costs.” Would you feel more comfortable? Would you be more honest on your patient forms? Studies show that nearly 4 out of 5 patients are less than truthful with their doctors: https://lnkd.in/emt-bFUT. The main reasons are fear of:  • Embarrassment  • Judgment  • Being lectured Alarmingly, 1 out of 3 patients lie due to FEAR OF DISCRIMINATION. Lack of trust in the medical community can lead to poor adherence to treatment, which can be dangerous. While it’s important to test messaging like these signs with patient groups, the real change must come from within. The entire clinic staff, from the front office to the clinical team, must embody a truly judgment-free environment. Judgment is harming patients. Nobody should suffer or die from embarrassment. #HealthcareMarketingJustice 

"Our generation inherited the wrong-headed belief that doctors were all knowing and next to God in their ability to heal. Nothing could be further from the truth. No matter how much we may like our docs, they are fallible, and their record shows it. Some 12 million misdiagnoses plague our medical industry every year. Medical information is changing so rapidly that no one practitioner can keep up with what’s new. That means we must do a good part of that work to understand the latest research. All too often our doctors will prescribe pills or procedures that are either antiquated or contraindicated because they are too lazy to change, too busy to get up-to-date, or too invested in being right about how they do things." #PatientAdvocacy #Deprescribing #WomensHealth #CroneWisdom #Queenagers https://lnkd.in/ecmFPYW2

My perfect death? ✅At an old age, ✅With good health until the end, ✅Asleep in my bed, ✅And, selfishly, before my spouse (joking a little, but that post death paperwork is not for the faint of heart!) End of life is not a singular event. With advances in medicine, it is often a cascade of medical decisions. There are decisions that you, and your medical proxies, make that may prolong the dying process without adding value to your life. An advance directive can help guide your medical decision makers in the type of care that you would, and would not, want in the case of serious medical illness. Of course, having these discussions is the most important part of the process. If you would like an excellent read on the cascade of medical decisions at the end of life, I recommend “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” by Katy Butler It is well-researched, captivating, and told from her personal perspective of caring for her dad. #advancedirective #advancecareplanning #endoflife #advancecare #livingwill #medicalwishes #advancedirectives #estateplanning

#12 - One of the best favors I can do for a family (and myself) is to reach out early if I see the case has potential to go poorly. The better my rapport with the family, the better buy-in I will have, which is important when I’m delivering bad news. When a patient isn’t improving as expected, and I see that difficult decisions may lie ahead, I follow this pattern: Conversation #1: 🔵 I introduce myself to the patient and/or family and ensure they understand the medical situation. I explain the unknowns. (e.g.: “Right now, we don’t know if Sally’s breathing will improve.”) [Keep it open ended] 🔵 I explain what we are doing in the meantime: “We will continue to give best supportive care including breathing treatments, etc...” 🔵 Then I leave them with a thought: “Of course, I want Sally to live long and recover, but we should also be prepared for the worst-case scenario so that we can give direction to the medical team. One question to think about is: would Sally ever want to be intubated?” Now, the patient/family are ✅ 1) grounded with the potential of things going poorly, and ✅ 2) aware of the most pressing question to answer. 🔵 Finally, ask them to talk again in the coming days. Conversation #2 simply carries these topics forward. Even if the worst case has moved from possible to inevitable, I often find that the discussion progresses smoothly without shocking or blindsiding the family. _______________________________________________________________________________ As a healthcare provider for the chronically ill and terminal, I give bad news every day and I have learned how to do it well—plus mistakes to avoid. During January, I will release a series on how to effectively deliver bad news with confidence and understanding.   #healthcare #palliativecare #difficultconversations #emotionalintelligence

Managing an angry patient requires empathy, effective communication, and a calm demeanor. The following steps will help to navigate the situation: 1.  Allow the patient to express their concerns and feelings without interrupting. 2. Show understanding and empathy, acknowledging their frustration or anger. 3. Maintain a calm tone and body language to de-escalate the situation. 4. Ask questions to understand the root cause of their anger. 5. Provide clear explanations and solutions to address their concerns. 6. If possible, offer alternative solutions or compromises. 7. Apologize for any inconvenience or distress caused. 8. If necessary, involve other healthcare professionals to provide additional support. 9. After the situation has been resolved, check in with the patient to ensure their concerns have been addressed. 10. Record the details of the incident and the steps taken to resolve it. Remember, staying calm, empathetic, and professional can help de-escalate the situation and turn an angry patient into a satisfied one.

Just an observation. I recently got to spend a day in casualty and was able to observe many of the interactions of the healthcare professionals.What was interesting is that the majority of patients admitted were over 65. Whilst they were all treated with respect and dignity, there was a distinct ‘Speaking down’ to those older patients as opposed to speaking more ‘equally’ to those who were younger . The geriatrician visited to do a round and I overheard him saying to one patient who told him he had a home care package. “Oh that’s fantastic. Aren’t they great? You can go home then.” This gave the patient a sense of power I thought. The other person who lived alone and did not have any support he recommended respite. And we all know the consequences of unplanned respite. Not always, but in many cases, it leads to a very rapid decline. I do understand that every case is different. This was just an interesting observation. What did I learn about my little visit? Always plan ahead if you can once chronic conditions set in as you age; to remember how we speak to people regardless of their age.We should NEVER assume that older people do not have a voice and do not understand their own needs. An interesting experience to say the least. Take care everyone.

Patients get mad at me all the time. But it’s usually just a reflection of how well (or poorly) I’ve stated a boundary. To be clear, I have the best patients, and they respect my limits. But they also expect me to be clear and upfront about them. Too many physicians worry about the appropriateness of their clinical boundaries not realizing that they’re completely reasonable. The boundaries themselves are not the problem. Sometimes it’s just the delivery. We never mentioned them in initial visits or we were a little too lenient that one time and now we’re firm and rigid. Clearly articulating our boundaries can make the difference between a stressful day filled with complaints and a streamlined schedule. It means getting home on time, with no guilt, and enough energy to enjoy your time at home. And THAT’S how we show up day after day.   I have availability to walk through this work with you one on one. Send me a message and we can go over this on a coaching consult. #physiciancoaching #physiciancoach #boundaries #boundariesarehealthy

Imagine: entering a hospital room and being met with complete silence. As a doctor, I’ve witnessed this too many times to count, working with so many patients in a day. But one encounter sticks out in my mind. A few years ago, I was making my rounds, checking in on patients. When I arrived at one of my patient’s rooms, the silence hit me like a punch in the gut. He sat motionless, staring blankly out the window. I realised at that moment just how lonely sickness can be. Studies show that 25–50% of hospital patients experience loneliness during their stay. But we can make a difference. By making a few gestures, like: 1️⃣ Spend time with them 2️⃣ Encourage social interaction 3️⃣ Offer support groups I’ve learned that some of the greatest teachers are the same patients I treat. Their perspectives and resilience in the face of illness offer invaluable lessons that go beyond my medical textbooks. One such incident was when one of my patients sent me a picture of a prayer they had written, expressing their hope and resilience to another. I was so moved that I hung the picture in my drawing room and read it every day. So next time you visit a friend or loved one in the hospital, leave the small talk at the door. Have an honest, heartfelt conversation. What are some other ways we can combat loneliness and isolation for the sick? Let me know in the comments. PS: Here is the picture I was talking about that is hung in my drawing room #healthcare #patientcare #loneliness