The year of ethics

The American Nurses Association declared 2015 the Year of Ethics. They also updated their Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements this year, too.

Lately, there are lots of ethics issues in the news. This recent article series talks about risks for manicurists calls into question the ethics of nail salons. There are sections of major newspapers discussing everything from genomic issues to the latest celebrity ethical dilemma.

In the Hotel, we deal with issues, too. Is it ethical to share your cell phone number so patients can call you back promptly when the phones in the facility don't always work? Is it ethical to be Facebook friends with patients? Is it ethical to deny certain patients items during care that aren't denied of similar patients, when there is no risk to health and safety? Are prejudices appropriate as health care providers?

So many things to consider this year, and every day.

We are the most trusted profession after all. Shouldn't we be ethical?

More to come...

On call oldie but goodie

FYI I have never taken call. It's not a common thing in rehab (especially in our neck of the woods), but I was intrigued by this article because of the some the recent arguments amongst our medical staff.

I discussed this with Dahey, since his dad was a physician a long time ago. He liked to go on rounds with him (in those halcyon days before HIPAA) and he always said Dahey should be the pediatrician.

However, I often wonder what my father-in-law would think of today's environment for physicians. It's a completely different world out there.

Stay tuned!

The doctor IS right

I've been following Dr. Val for a while, and I have to say, part of the reason is that I get her. I get what's she's talking about because I work in rehab.

Physiatrists get rehab, since they train in a specialty known as Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. I happen to work with wonderful physiatrists who have years of experience.

And I have thought the same thing when I have read and seen certain specialists, like Eric Topol  in the media. It would be nice to sum up everything we do into a little smartphone app, but it will never happen in this lifetime. Disclaimer: My work actually includes a whole lot of technological interventions.

If we ever get to smartphone-only health care, I fear for everyone who does get a diagnosis, like spinal cord injury, that can benefit from a rehab program by specially trained staff, just like ours at the Hotel.

Cheap is one thing, and quality is another. You can have both to a certain degree; however, we do have to be careful what we wish for. It may not be good enough after all, cheap or no.

Stay tuned....