Top 10 Tips for Dealing w/Medical Professionals1. Remember who has the "upper hand" and the old saying "you get more bees w/honey!" You're under stress, so it may take more effort to be nice, but it's critical!
2. "Can you help me understand?" is a powerful question. When things aren't happening as you think they should, this is far more effective than "why aren't you? why don't you? when are you?" etc.!
3. Ask for a specialist! If you go to the ER with a significant problem (ie., heart attack, serious wounds requiring plastic surgery), in most cases, if you don't request a specialist, you will get a resident (nothing against residents! they have a role to fill, but that doesn't mean you want them working on you or your loved one alone in a critical situation! They can be present WITH the specialist!). Some hospitals no longer allow this, but ask! If you go by ambulance & have a choice in hospitals, ask the paramedics wherer this is allowed (& where THEY would go)!
4. When asking for a referring doctor or specialist, or being "assigned one", ask a nurse who they would use. Don't ask "would you recommend, or do you like", ask "if you needed a _______ for yourself or loved one who do you/would you pick?"
5. Surgery- insist that you give permission for changes in course unless life threatening. Also, insist that the surgery be performed by a specialist and not an intern or resident (you will see language allowing this on the releases you have to sign. Line through them and initial!)
6. Remember that hospital staff members are often unappreciated and abused (in some cases by the hospital that they work for as much as the patients!). Look for ways to acknowledge and appreciate them ,and they will appreciate and respect you! It's not hard to look someone in the eye and say "thank you", but we rarely do!
7. Candy never hurts! If you are to be in the hospital overnight, have someone bring a big bowl of candy to share (or some kind of treats for the staff). They will come "check on you" more often :)
8. If you are being treated badly, kindly point out that you had a choice in hospitals and you chose theirs! If they don't care, find an administrator (they are only there during office hours) in the office area of the hospital. They spend a lot of money marketing themselves to GET patients, and sometimes need to be reminded! Those in the risk management role also understand that patient "happiness" plays a big part in protecting their liability. "ER and floor staff" don't have that perspective!
9. Give them a little perspective...If you are being overlooked, or feel that the person you are dealing with is "not engaged", give them a little perspective by saying something like "I know you have a lot of patients and we aren't the only ones. We don't want to be a pain, all we ask is that you would treat us the way that you would want your _________ (mother, father, child) to be treated.
10. If you feel that you or your loved one is in dire danger and fear for their life, don't sit back helplessly! With your phone camera, let the staff know that you are recording audio or video of them and the patient as evidence if something happens! Find an administrator, or if time is critical, call 911! Demand an ambulance crew be sent to the room!
here ya go!
At Your Service,
Heather O'
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