Some of the more experienced medics I work with will say when you work with me I have a couple of rules. One guy says treat all patients better than they expect.
Recently we picked a patient up from a med center operation. He'd had stroke like symptons- left side leg weakness, left side arm issues and facial droop for 3-4 days. He told the facility he had taken hypertension meds at one point but had given them up and is a smoker.
The doctor gave him a pointed lecture that he should havecome sooner, that stopping his meds was "stupid" and that going outside to smoke prior to our arrival was "stupid." Objectively this maybe all true.
I got into ems due to a belief that each person has worth and dignity. This goes for all including folks who delay treatment, smoke and choose not to take meds.
So my rule might go something like this: each patient has worth and dignity and we don't judge them we treat them.
I assessed the patient, placed a precautionary saline lock, and chatted with him on the way to the hospital. I didn't judge his prior actions. To do so would have violated a rule of mine.
1 comment:
He knows the hospital will not allow him to smoke, so for him to go out and smoke prior to your arrival is just going to keep his stress level down. He probably should take his meds, but lecturing him about that is not likely to help.
Post a Comment