Patient Shadowing

In James F. Childress and Mark Siegler’s article, “Metaphors and Models of Doctor-Patient Relationships: Their Implications for Autonomy,” they discuss the types of relationships in healthcare and how those relationships allow the physician and patient to interact to make negotiations. Childress and Siegler say that relationships are either between intimates or between strangers and that when it is between strangers there is a lack of trust because of the way physicians are viewed most days. Because of the way society has turned to rules and regulations and the pluralistic nature of our society, physicians are often viewed as technicians and contractors rather than as parents or friends.

The experiences on my path to a career in medicine have made me want to make a real, tangible difference in the lives of those around me – a difference that leaves my patients in a better condition than they were in before I met them. My father taught me that medicine that cares, cures, helps, and heals is of greater import than medicine that simply makes a diagnosis and prescribes a medication. I hope that one day, I will become a provider of the type of medicine that treats not only the body, but also the mind and

This paper will explain the seven principles of patient-clinician communication. It will then apply three of those principles to my interactions with my patients. Next, it will describe three methods being used in my area of practice to improved communication between the patients and clinicians. It will ultimately choose one of those principles that applies best to my practice and clearly describe how I use it. It will describe ethical principles that can be applied to issues with patient-clinician communication. Finally, it will explain the importance of ethics in communication and how patient safety is influenced by good or bad team communication.

a. First, write down the direct quotations regarding beliefs. Be sure to use quotation marks and note page numbers.

“Clinical gaze”, a term coined by French philosopher Michel Foucault from The Birth of the Clinic, deals with the transformation of doctor-patient relationships over time. Since the birth of modern medicine, Foucault states that doctors tend to view their patients more as a disease and less as a person. Before the improvements in science were made during the 19th century, doctor carefully listened to their patients and heavily relied on their narratives to make a diagnosis. Not only were these narratives were a central part to the doctor-patient relationship, but they also helped build a sense of trust within the doctor and individuality within the patient. Doctors were viewed more an “advisor” and “friend” rather than a complete authoritative

Nowadays, there is more emphasis on educating healthcare providers to not only focus on disease and diagnosis, but also incorporate assessment of patient’s experiences, feelings and perceptions of his or her disease into a patient care. I feel that most of the younger generation healthcare providers try to explain the disease and treatment to the patient and hear what is the patient’s perspective on it to ensure that a patient is part of the healthcare team. Assessing patient’s perspective on things may increase patient’s compliance and improve patient’s outcomes. However, some of the old school doctors don’t really like to explain their decision-making and assess patient’s perspective on things.

In the past 18 months, I have continued to shadow various physicians across a variety of specialties that serve different communities. Each time, I am amazed at their ability to heal patients with various ailments. This sense of wonder leaves me wanting to learn more and motivates me to eventually become a physician that has the ability to heal all of these patients as well. In addition, I have shadowed physicians for their full twelve-hour shifts, so I have seen all of the aspects of the career. Though there may be some less desirable aspects, such as the required time spent completing charts, I realize the importance of it. Through these shadowing experiences, I can be assured that I am making an informed decision and pursuing a career that

First, we are clinicians to which these patients seek for our expertise to address their health problems. Secondly, we are diagnosticians whereby we seek the underlying causes of our patient’s health issues. Third, we are educators to which we help our patients cope and understand their health conditions. And lastly, we aspire to be the catalyst for a positive change in our patient’s concept of wellness and health. And truly, when we achieve our roles as catalysts for change for our patients we exude the transformative power of physical

Time feels accelerated when I see my grandparents as though I am seeing them in a time-lapsed movie. Aside from the additional wrinkles, slower movement, and frailty that comes with aging, observing them, I have come to realize that life is short, perhaps too short. They have lived in my house throughout my life, and being close with them from a young age has given way to listening to many important life lessons, sometimes wanting to listen willfully and other times forcing myself to do so. One thing I have come to understand is that the advice and experiences of one’s elders serves an important function, to impart wisdom. They recommended to me to pursue my passions, so during my college career, I became involved in the Pre-health Professions

My experiences shadowing with several physicians have given me an insight to the difficult but yet rewarding career medicine has to offer. One of my shadowing experiences that stood out the most to me was when I shadowed at Emory University Hospital. As undergraduate student, I had the opportunity to shadow for a team of neuropathologist led by Dr. Brat. While shadowing for Dr. Brat, we received a patients tissue and the team of pathologist (including myself) determined that this patient had glioblastoma. We had so many patient cases to sign out that I didn’t think too much about the diagnosis.

Have you ever experienced the rush of adrenaline or exhilarated pressure that challenges you? During the week of August 2nd through August 8th, I had the opportunity to shadow doctors at medical camps in Matamoros. Mexico. Also during this time, I was struggling between my career choices for college. On August 6th, I was observing Dr. Joby, an emergency room doctor. Every patient he observed he moved with swiftness and elegance and challenged me by giving me small tasks on getting to know the patients and observing the little things when providing care. This event resulted in me deciding in becoming a family practice physician. I decided upon this because I want to experience the connections Dr. Joby has with all of his patients and the constant

As an aspiring physician in Emergency Medicine, it is hard to describe typical physician workday activities. Every day is unique and filled with many opportunities to learn and develop clinical, interpersonal communication, leadership and critical thinking skills. Despite this, there are certain routine activities which I had the opportunity to observe through my shadowing experience in the Emergency and Operating rooms at California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles. One day, a two year old patient came into the ER after falling and cutting her head. The patient’s mother told the physician that her daughter is nervous and scared. Upon meeting the little girl, I was surprised to see the doctor change his actions and way of communicating.

When contemplating the difficult relationship between physicians and their patients, Emanuel introduces four different models. These four different models consist of different understandings of the goals of the physician-patient interactions, a physician’s obligation, the role of the patient’s values, along with patient’s autonomy. The paternalistic model is understood to be that the physician can decide what is in the patient’s best interest, thus not including the patient in an extensive rapport. The informative model can also be known as the scientific or consumer model. This model focuses on the physician providing their patient with all the relevant information necessary in order for the patient to make an informed decision based on their values. In the third model, the interpretive model, the physician provides the patient with all the necessary information and then discusses and makes clear the patient’s values.From the values discussed, the patient will then choose treatment based on the discussed values. The deliberative model, the fourth model, has the

So, when given the chance to volunteer in the Heart and Cancer Treatment Department at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT, I was consumed with excitement. I was impressed at the amount of respect and admiration patients exhibited toward their doctors. One particular incident that still resonates with me involved an elderly woman with a heart condition. Her skin was so fragile it could rupture from anything beyond the softest touch and her eyes were so obscured with cataracts it was difficult to tell their color. Her hair was wispy over a scalp that shows signs of pressure sores, pink from constant contact with the pillow. Nervously I asked, “Miss, would you like a book or magazine?” “It depends on the type of books you have,” she replied. From there, we engaged in a lively conversation about books that she had read. In the end, she gently held my hand and said, “Thank you.” Over the coming weeks, I witnessed her losing her battle, not only with her illness but the lack of support from others. Yet my presence had caused her to smile and regain some happiness. From this, I learned that all patients need support, and I realized that even the simplest things can change a person’s outlook on life. It also became clear to me that a patient’s emotional comfort is as important as her physical health, and it is essential to consider this when treating