Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Doctors need to advocate more for their patients

Ton La, Jr., MD, JD
Physician
July 31, 2022
6 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

My first patient of residency was Mr. John. He endured life-threatening injuries that left him without speech or the ability to move his limbs. Every day had obstacles, and I met most of his family over time. Mr. John was a family man who looked after others first before himself. A self-made man. He was a man who was physically strong and dedicated to every project and goal he set his mind to. Each day before I left, I held his hand and told him there was love always around him. And to keep fighting.

Not much improvement has been made about a week or so into coming to the hospital. Nearly all of his doctors wanted him to be discharged to a skilled nursing facility (the infamous “nursing home”), and the family was unhappy about these brief one-minute discussions. Sometimes, a patient going to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) is the only option because their body is not ready for the three hours of daily rehab with PT/OT/speech that comes with inpatient rehabilitation. Even more, we have all heard the stories of spotty nursing coverage at a SNF where outcomes can be very bleak for patients.

I consulted inpatient rehab with hope and against what most other doctors wanted for Mr. John. It was the last piece that wasn’t explored yet and was admittedly a huge chance for him. However, the family wanted to see if he could be accepted to inpatient rehab, and because the family wanted the evaluation, I followed through on it. They understood that the answer might be a no, but I wanted Mr. John and the family to have that opportunity to see. I still held out hope that he would soon communicate with us.

And the next day, I walked into his room, and Mr. John and I smiled at each other. He told me, “Hey,” and I felt happiness emanating throughout the room for him. I asked him to wiggle his toes, and he did. I asked him if he could wink at me, and he did it with another big smile. I couldn’t believe so much progress could be made overnight, but that is what a miracle is made of. Ultimately, Mr. John was accepted to inpatient rehab. Since then, I’ve been told he continues to improve on all fronts.

Advocating for your patients is the most powerful thing a doctor can do. It is far too easy to see 30+ patients a day around the hospital with varying levels of complexity and forget to at least take some time to advocate. Don’t simply check off boxes on your to-do list.
It is likewise vital to discuss the plan with any family that is with the patient. It is far too easy to forget that it can be difficult for families to make it to the hospital to be with their loved ones.

We should also do right by them and not skimp on essential discussions like discharging to a SNF. Or at worse, simply stating that your loved one is not eligible for rehab in less than a minute is the end of the discussion.

That is how trust is lost between patients and doctors; it is up to us to build this trust with patients and their families over time. That is the only way we can be confident in the steps moving forward.

Ton La, Jr. is a physician and can be reached on LinkedIn.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

The role of nutrition in rheumatology patients

July 31, 2022 Kevin 3
…
Next

A physician mom’s take on telemedicine [PODCAST]

July 31, 2022 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Geriatrics, Orthopedics

Post navigation

< Previous Post
The role of nutrition in rheumatology patients
Next Post >
A physician mom’s take on telemedicine [PODCAST]

More by Ton La, Jr., MD, JD

  • My patient with an aortic dissection almost died

    Ton La, Jr., MD, JD
  • The nicest patient I’ve ever met

    Ton La, Jr., MD, JD
  • Death is what gives life meaning

    Ton La, Jr., MD, JD

Related Posts

  • Here are some things that patients wish doctors knew

    R. Lynn Barnett
  • We are warriors: doctors and patients

    Michele Luckenbaugh
  • Are patients using social media to attack physicians?

    David R. Stukus, MD
  • Doctors and patients should be wary of health care mega-mergers

    Linda Girgis, MD
  • A perk of Medicare for all: More time for doctors and patients

    Rani Marx, MD and James G. Kahn, PhD
  • We need physicians who advocate for patients’ best interests

    Daniel Low, MD

More in Physician

  • From rural communities to underserved populations: How telemedicine is bridging health care gaps

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • From solidarity to co-liberation: Understanding the journey towards ending oppression

    Maiysha Clairborne, MD
  • Finding peace through surrender: a personal exploration

    Dympna Weil, MD
  • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

    Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH
  • Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

    Nana Dadzie Ghansah, MD
  • How to overcome telemedicine’s biggest obstacles

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Healing the damaged nurse-physician dynamic

      Angel J. Mena, MD and Ali Morin, MSN, RN | Policy
    • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Physician
    • From physician to patient: one doctor’s journey to finding purpose after a devastating injury

      Stephanie Pearson, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of misery in medicine: a practical guide

      Paul R. Ehrmann, DO | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Why are doctors sued and politicians aren’t?

      Kellie Lease Stecher, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care

      Greg Smith, MD | Conditions
    • From rural communities to underserved populations: How telemedicine is bridging health care gaps

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • 5 essential tips to help men prevent prostate cancer

      Kevin Jones, MD | Conditions
    • Unlock the power of physician compensation data in contract negotiations [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • From pennies to attending salaries: Why physicians should teach their kids financial literacy

      Michele Cho-Dorado, MD | Finance
    • From solidarity to co-liberation: Understanding the journey towards ending oppression

      Maiysha Clairborne, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • At-Home Topical Therapy for Molluscum Contagiosum Gets High Marks
  • Senators Press Moderna's CEO to Drop COVID Vaccine Price
  • Senators Press HHS Chief on Alzheimer's Drugs, Opioids at Budget Hearing
  • Despite Abortion Restrictions, Ob/Gyn Remains Competitive Residency
  • Cholera Outbreak Widens; What Beethoven's DNA Revealed; Grindr's Free HIV Tests

Meeting Coverage

  • At-Home Topical Therapy for Molluscum Contagiosum Gets High Marks
  • Outlook for Itchy Prurigo Nodularis Continues to Improve With IL-31 Antagonist
  • AAAAI President Shares Highlights From the 2023 Meeting
  • Second-Line Sacituzumab Govitecan Promising in Platinum-Ineligible UC
  • Trial of Novel TYK2 Inhibitor Hits Its Endpoint in Plaque Psoriasis
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Healing the damaged nurse-physician dynamic

      Angel J. Mena, MD and Ali Morin, MSN, RN | Policy
    • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Physician
    • From physician to patient: one doctor’s journey to finding purpose after a devastating injury

      Stephanie Pearson, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of misery in medicine: a practical guide

      Paul R. Ehrmann, DO | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Why are doctors sued and politicians aren’t?

      Kellie Lease Stecher, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care

      Greg Smith, MD | Conditions
    • From rural communities to underserved populations: How telemedicine is bridging health care gaps

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • 5 essential tips to help men prevent prostate cancer

      Kevin Jones, MD | Conditions
    • Unlock the power of physician compensation data in contract negotiations [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • From pennies to attending salaries: Why physicians should teach their kids financial literacy

      Michele Cho-Dorado, MD | Finance
    • From solidarity to co-liberation: Understanding the journey towards ending oppression

      Maiysha Clairborne, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today iMedicalApps
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...