The field of medicine has transformed the lives of many people. Observing medical professionals in a clinical setting has shown me how helping patients manage their illness can be a very rewarding experience. Perhaps one of the greatest challenges doctors face is helping patients cope with an incurable illness. I see a doctor as a guide who shows a patient how to live through tough stages of life, one who prioritises patient safety and welfare.
My work experience placement at a GP practice exposed me to the wide variety of challenges doctors face on a regular basis. Not only must they have an extensive foundation of knowledge developed over the many years spent training, but the skill of listening is essential for understanding the concerns
For many patients with incurable illnesses around the world, the time to stop particular treatments is an ongoing argument. Atul Gawande, a surgeon and staff writer for The New York Times, has been following this debate since his medical practice and strives to inform the public on how to handle mortality. In his article, The Best Possible Day, Gawande employs an anecdote, Ethos, and a eulogy to encourage the audience to consider adjusting a sick person’s care according to how they feel.
My experience and skills are surpassed only by my enthusiasm to effectively meet the challenges before me. I am a highly capable, motivated, and energetic individual that enjoys working with others towards successful solutions. My leadership style incorporates motivation through positive feedback and support plus straightforwardness and open communication that builds trust and loyalty among my peers and patients alike. Throughout my personal experiences, education, and athletic career I have honed the ability to be a leader in times where others look for leadership. Leadership is not given; a confident, competent, and motivated individual takes leadership of a situation.
Worker observed one year old Vincent, he just had a birthday on February 15th. He was observed to be wearing a onsie and was sitting on a high chair. Vincent was eating gold fish crackers. He appeared to be healthy with no visible marks or bruises. Worker was informed that he received four vaccinations and those were his one year old vaccinations. He had his first birthday celebration at his daycare facility. It was a Mickey Mouse theme. Present at the party was his PGM, MGM his father Weylin, mother Katherine as well as the rest of the children in the daycare facility.
Having the opportunity to shadowing in primary care practices was most profound to my introduction of the practice of clinical medicine. It was through observing patient interactions centered upon the diagnosis and treatment of common medical conditions that I was able utilize medical information I had learned as an undergraduate to the actual application of practicing medicine. For instance, information about diabetes mellitus learned from my anatomy and physiology course was transformed into the physically diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of the chronic condition in medical settings. Thus, shadowing in such a practice truly brought medicine to life for me. Likewise, while shadowing, I had the opportunity to listen to patients
Almost thirteen years ago, my life changed when my youngest daughter was born with undiagnosed medical problems. The challenge of finding answers consumed my life. My family and I spent a significant amount of time searching for answers in and out of doctor’s offices and hospitals, always by our daughter’s side. Throughout my journey, I was able to learn a lot about the medical profession, including the differences between good and not so good healthcare professionals. We were fortunate to meet a lot of excellent doctor’s, nurses, and support staff, however, we also had our fair share of medical professionals that were not so great. At times our journey was extremely frustrating because we had to depend on medical staff that was uncaring and
Volunteering with Citizens UK to establish a patient-doctor health group on long-term health conditions gave me an insight into how versatile a doctor must be to cope with the wide scope of medicine. Engagement with over 120 patients in the Ferryview Health Centre waiting room, I was struck by how many of them felt that societal factors were the most significant causes of LTCs and my eyes were opened to the necessity of implementing a biopsychosocial model of healthcare.
During the engagement, the clinician can make important observation about the clients including their mood and their mannerisms. During group, the therapist can observe the individual and how they interact with the group as a whole. When engaging with clients, it is important for the clinician to demonstrate an unconditional positive regard with the client, being mindful of cultural differences and barriers. According to NASW code of Ethic 1.05, culture competence should be displayed by all social workers. I would make sure to demonstrate genuineness and empathy towards the group.
The amusement earned from enhancing a person's health is the thing that encourages me to become a doctor. To look at how NHS functions, I chatted with my GP and nearby Clinic specialists, medical caretakers and different staffs. To explore my fascination with medicine, I started volunteering at Newham Hospital as a 'patient champion.' Following four months of duty as a volunteer in Newham Hospital gave me understanding into fundamental challenges specialists confront every day.
This revealed the varied responsibilities that a doctor can face on a single working day. During a lecture on Medical Ethics, I learnt about the controversy of the biomedical model, given that psychosocial factors such as stress and depression can actually contribute to heart disease. Volunteering weekly at Aston House care home, I enjoy listening to and learning from the residents' individual life stories, while working in a team with other volunteers to develop ideas of arts and crafts activities to stimulate them. This role has helped me challenge myself and develop qualities such as teamwork, patience, empathy and effective communication. Operating the till at a Thames Hospice charity shop on busy days has enabled me to work accurately under pressure, while striving to treat each customer based on their individual needs and interests. Keen to gain an insight into patient care in a clinical setting, I recently attended a training day at Hillingdon Hospital, and will soon begin my role as a ward-based patient
I had the opportunity to observe patient management and appropriate doctor patient interactions under varying circumstances, from check-ups to end of life planning. Consequently, the most difficult visits to observe were of terminally ill patients as they highlighted the limitations medicine, and by extension the physician, yet I benefited most from these encounters by watching the physician provide realistic expectations and advice while maintaining empathy for the patient. Perhaps the biggest take away was the physician becoming a mentor figure, who took the opportunity to teach basic concepts while providing time to discuss how I was doing at the clinic and with my own inspirations. Furthermore, physician supervised mock visits allowed me
When it comes down to it doctors do not receive the adequate education, they are not personable, and they are most certainly not honest with their patients 24/7. They may have good qualities, but not enough of them. In the patient’s eyes the doctor is a stranger, and to promote health care the patient needs someone they can trust and talk to.
Working with patients with chronic healthcare concerns required a happy balance of physical, mental and emotional support. Treating the condition with a holistic approach helps to elevate the human at the centre of the suffering. Management of their illness often requires the committed attention of several specialists, working in tandem to ensure the patient has some semblance of normalcy. Remembering there is a human being amid the pain and suffering of a chronic health issue is paramount, and most humbling as a healthcare
Throughout my clinical training, I have been exposed time and again to the depth of difference that physicians can make in the lives of their patients. I know that as a physician, I will be expected by my patients to fulfill many roles: that of a healer, a guide, a teacher, and sometimes simply a bastion of emotional support. Being there for whatever my patients need is incredibly important to me, which is why I have worked hard throughout my clinical years to not only be a diligent student but a resource and source of aid for patients. During my experiences with hospice and palliative medicine I was witness to the depths of suffering that many patients experience, especially those with cancer or near the end of their lives. What I also saw was hardworking medical professionals bringing everything they had to bear to relieve suffering, treat disease, and comfort patients, no matter what ailed them. Because of those experiences I am committed to continuing that my trend of being there for my patients for the remainder of my career.
Being a physician is not simply handing out prescriptions and memorizing medical terminology. The job is to treat the patient, not the illness. To accomplish this, one must have the capacity to sympathize with the patient and truly understand their needs. Every person has a different life story and only physicians with an open mind can treat the entire patient.
“Whenever the art of Medicine is loved, there is also a love of Humanity”; these few words by Hippocrates were printed in my memory, 15 years ago, when the surgeon came out of the operation room saying, “I am sorry, we couldn’t save her life”, thus I lost my mother. Since that moment I realized my pressing eagerness to save peoples ' lives. My mother was always encouraging me to seek and discover everything around me and try to find answers to mysterious questions. My journey since childhood has started with the solid belief that the real happiness comes from serving others. My memories were filled with compassion. Every time I face a person who is ill, the word “justice” acquires a new meaning to me. In my perspective, physical weakness