tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7323692122514281455.post8739705229482774763..comments2024-03-18T17:51:23.018-04:00Comments on MD Whistleblower: Hospital Medicine Threatens Quality of Care with Communication LapsesMichael Kirsch, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07555280388086931097noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7323692122514281455.post-29624341843579025822014-03-30T15:53:20.046-04:002014-03-30T15:53:20.046-04:00Barbara, your comment is scarily close to what I e...Barbara, your comment is scarily close to what I experienced advocating for my wife during multiple hospitalizations last year. The major difference was that nursing was good. The contract hospitalists were a danger. At least one seemed borderline mentally ill to me. The other hospital chain in town has nurses more like you describe, which is why we don't go there.Ray Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11379062185065522466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7323692122514281455.post-39095473645702554402014-03-30T07:58:35.008-04:002014-03-30T07:58:35.008-04:00For many years now I have felt that every hospital...For many years now I have felt that every hospitalized patient should have a constantly-attending advocate who is medically knowledgeable. At least one family member should be able to interpret, intercede, advise, and have full power of attorney for the patient. That person must sleep in, go with, and hang out with the patient 24/7. They must be logical thinkers who don't become emotional. They must be prepared to argue like a lawyer, have the memory of computer, the strength of Atlas, the stamina of a long distance swimmer, and the countenance of a pit bull. Hospitalists, especially those who don't speak English well, are often a miserable lot and patients are often bullied, over-treated, under-counseled, not understood, and even sometimes neglected. Docs in private practice sometimes depend on the hospitalist too much and tend the patient too little, but I think that's rare. Patients are usually frightened, cowering creatures who tend to regress in age when confronted with the giant internal MEDICAL MONSTER whose name is, "NoKnowledgeAboutThisSubject" and/or "ThisScaresTheBejeebersOutofMe,and their normally intelligent brains have left the building when it comes to making the right decision for themselves. Have pity! Hospitalists have shoved good nurses off onto the sidelines because there aren't enough nurses who are well-enough trained to be able to advocate for their patients, and their patient loads are way too large. As a patient, I've spent more time with housekeeping than a nurse, and I tend to want a weapon or a teddy bear when the hospitalist comes in, and I always need an interpreter because I don't understand foreigners well. I personally tend to fire them and tell them to get out of my room. Unless I need something that only they can provide, of course. The nice thing is, I have my real doc on speed dial. And I have the internet. :-]<br />Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00313716079029892053noreply@blogger.com