Doctor Who?….or Doctor Where?….
Well the three day shifts I did lived upto (or down to) expectations, we were late off each day which, added to being late off on all my previous night shifts, has left me completely and utterly knacked!! And guess what? I,m back on nights tomorrow for 4 x 12 hour shifts!! Really looking forward to those…not!!
One of the things that amazes me within the medical profession is why dont Doctors stay on scene with their poorly patients and wait for us to arrive? We were sent to an 83 year old male who was unconscious and breathing, suffering recently from a UTI (urinary tract infection).
We arrived at the address (within 8 minutes so the great God ORCON will be pleased) and found the patient in bed and in a very serious state. His breathing was laboured and his blood pressure was in his boots (very low). Oxygen was given, he was monitored, cannulated and a call put into the A/E for resus to be put on standby.
All the while we were doing this and getting the patient ready for rapid transportation to the hospital, the staff at the Nursing Home told us that the G.P. had left 5 minutes prior to our arrival. Why? He could have assisted us in getting a more detailed history of his patient, the least he could have done seeing as he left without giving us any initial observations to go on. This patient was “proper poorly”.
The times that we are told “…doctor is on scene.” and we arrive to find that they have gone beggars belief. When a doctor has stayed on scene I have found them (in the majority of cases), to be very helpful and they are usually surprised as to how much we can do. I still believe that most of them think we are just ambulance drivers and thats all!
With this gentleman there was some confusion in the history and we kept being told that he had a UTI. It was written in his care plan and the antibiotics had been noted down. On listening to the patients chest with the old stethoscope it was obvious that he had a severe chest infection and URTI (upper respiratory tract infection.) A simple mistake in putting down his condition in his care plan when using abbreviations had occured.
We went on Blues & Twos to the A/E where the team were waiting. Turns out he had right sided pneumonia.
December 3, 2006 at 5:25 pm
I will bear this is mind for my future work! And I know how much you guys can do due to work experience!!
December 3, 2006 at 11:33 pm
My favourite is turning up all bells and sirens at a GP surgery for an ‘A’ cat chest pains to find the patient sat in the waiting room under the steely glare of the receptionist (he wouldn’t dare die) without the benefit of O2, GTN or even a flippin’ aspirin! God forbid he should have had some pain relief or that their 15yr old ECG machine was working long enough to print a trace.
Then you get handed a sealed letter FAO the SHO on xxx ward.
Priceless.
December 4, 2006 at 10:02 am
Thats been the same for me in the vast majority of cases. It must be classed as failing to provide a duty of care surely?
The good chest pains I,ve been to at a GPs surgery have been few and far between. But it is good when you get a switched on doctor who gives the aspirin, GTN, does a 12 lead trace and even sometimes cannulates! And also stays with the patient!
The handover of the continuity of care is just as important as the treatment side.
December 15, 2007 at 10:51 am
very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce
January 30, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Hi!
About “Doctor who?…or Doctor where?…
You have e really nice illustration with two doctors under the headline. I am working on a homepage for a private doctor and I wonder if it is OK if I use the illustration. Is it yours? Or if not, do you know where I can find it!
Would be very greatful for a quick replay
Elisabet
January 31, 2008 at 11:10 am
Elisabet….I googled the image with the search of “doctors”.
It is in the public domain so you could just right click the picture and save it to your file.
Good luck with your homepage……Kingmagic.
May 22, 2008 at 11:16 am
hello