Scenario 1 - Pills, pins and needles.
Today was an interesting day. The specialists are busy at the Hotel and you would have thought it was a full moon.
One patient called into the SU stating, "I need more pain meds and to fix my record. I am not a drug seeker." Also, the patient mentioned that he/she had a numb leg for the entire weekend ("all pins and needles"), telling me how many falls, etc., and how terrible it was, so couldn't we just fill the script.
I mentioned to said patient that it might be prudent to go straight to the ER. "Naw, I can't do that, my leg is numb."
"So how will you get to the drug store to get your script?" I ask.
"Aw," says patient, "I'll just get a ride. Or I'll wait until my appointment tomorrow up at Washington (our main hospital)"
Well, HELLOOO in there! If you can get a ride, you surely can get to the ER, can't you? What made you wait three whole days to call?
Scenario 2 - My nurse is with me today
We had a couple of patients lately in the sister unit who came in with family members. We don't allow them in the room for procedures, but we allow them to talk to the doc and consent and ask as many questions as they desire.
One patient came in with his healthcare professional sibling (supposedly a nurse--no idea what kind). Patient stated in his/her last consult that they had issues and needed x,y,z intervention, all of which we do not do here. Patient still wanted to come. This seemed odd, but we do lots of odd stuff here.
Patient arrives at appointment happy and with sibling and all looks good, except patient has some doubts. This is where Dr. X shines. Dr. X was an internist in another life and he loves talking to people. If he wouldn't have been a doc he probably could have been a wonderful minister. He's folksy and honest and people just genuinely like to talk to him.
Doc excuses me and the trainer from the room and he and his resident talk to this patient and sibling. While we were away, sibling argued with Dr. X and made it sound like Dr. X was the world's biggest jerk. Dr. X. was very exasperated. Patient and sibling actually stormed off out of the room.
Weird thing...same patient called back breathlessly and wanted to talk to us while we were restocking. When I called him/her back, I got voice mail.
To be continued....more to come.
1 comment:
Eww exciting can't wait to hear what happens to second scenario patient.
In my job I answer phone calls for a clinic and on the weekends we get drug seekers all the time and even though we're only operators, not medically trained, we still have a hunch what the patient is calling for, but we still have to page a doc on call and let the doc tell the patient to wait until Monday. You have a good point about scenario patient 1, if he can get a ride to the pharmacy why can't he get a ride to the ER. Some of these people just don't think through their story very well before calling...
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