Clinics and consultation, the interface between the doctor and the patient or client as is it now advocated. The place where most work in the hospital is assumed take place. I am yet to see a patient who goes to a clinic/hospital (well, in Nigeria) to consult with anyone but the doctor. Most of the time, we don’t realize that it is the consultation that makes the clinic. The mistake made by many doctors is that we are actually faster than the patient. A typical scenario,
D: Hello Madam, Good morning, how may I help you today?
P: Hello Doctor, I have a headache, fever, cough and catarrh. Also, I’ve lost my appetite lately. Just feeling out of sorts.
D: Sorry to hear about that Madam, take these medications that I’ll prescribe and you’ll feel better.
P: Thank you Doctor.
The patient walks away, mostly dissatisfied. The doctor hadn’t bother to explain to her what her symptoms meant, what she could be suffering from, the medications he had prescribed and why they must be taken seriously. If he didn’t do all these, he most likely didn’t find out about her family and job, two very important social factors that could cause a person physical and emotional illness. As defined by WHO, health isn’t the absence of disease only but the wellbeing of the mind, medical and social factors.
We’ve all been to the doctor at one time in our lives, tell me about your experience. Got to run
Cheers…..
I have to thank Almighty God for keeping me healthy. However several years ago I did have a problem with my lower back. My doctor was our family physician. Dr. Mensah, a Ghanaian, who schooled in Ghana but wound up practicing in the U.S. where I grew up. Good old Dr. Mensah diagnosed my problem and had me well in less than three days. To God be the Glory, but I thank God for sending me a good doctor.
ReplyDeleteWe all pray to meet good doctors when we are ill.
DeleteHm, i remember many years ago whilst living at Enugu going to see a doctor because i was very worried about a health concern. This was a private hospital and i felt my opinions and demands will be met since i am paying for my treatment anyway, but on this day i met a doctor and i explained my concern to him, after examining me, he sat down and started chatting with me, it is reading your blog now Dr Keren that i now know he was carrying out a basic medical requirement which is getting to know his patient first before diagnosing and maybe treatment. Now this doctor goes on to ask me if i speak and understand igbo in which i replied affirmatively although bemused, he then makes a proverb which goes, "oke amamife negbu mmadu". He asked if i understood and i replied yes,and he then tells me not to interpret every niggle and pain as a potential life threatening problem. To date although quite difficult for a near hypochondriach i continue to use that igbo proverb as a sounding board for myself whenever i feel out of sorts....maybe
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you met a sensitive, intelligent doctor
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