"I poked her thigh to emphasize that diabetes is the leading cause of blindness," he said Thursday. "People have got to accept criticism without getting their bowels in an uproar."
Now some may say that this is not the right way to address this problem, but after practicing for 30 years Dr. Sunderhaus has probably seen a large rate of non-compliance. He is straight to the point and no jokes about it. After all, it's his patient's health. It's his job as a health care professional to give their best opinion in favor of prolonging his patient's life and well being. Sugar coating the truth would set the patient up for failure in having a more healthy life.
After seeing so many cases that could have been preventable (not smoking, moderate alcohol, using clean razors, etc.) I think it's time to be more blunt in educating patients in taking care of themselves so they get the point.
I had Mr. Smoker as patient one day who presented with shortness of breath and decreased SP02. The plan was to administer steroid medication, PRN nebulizers, and wean off oxygen. He told me he wanted to go smoke, but the doctor did not order hospital privileges. The doc did order a nicotine patch so that Mr. Smoker could have his fix. Later in the day I go to check on him and he's not in his room. He's not on the ward. I look outside from the 4th floor and I see Mr. Smoker at the entrance smoking a cigarette. As I go to fetch him he comes through the entrance with his IV pole.
When we got back to his room I gave an intense education briefing to the patient about the safety issues related to his condition. Mr. Smoker said he started feeling short of breath more than before. I wonder why...
Sometimes it necessary to be blunt when educating patients. Not rude, but straight to the point and to be firm about it. What if Mr. Smoker collapsed while he was out having one lit? That would have been a horrible situation that could happen to him.
[Via newsobserver.com]
