Long Block - Residents Discuss Ambulatory Training
Below are some of the comments residents had to say about the ambulatory training:
“I had a 30-year-old patient with congestive heart failure who couldn’t walk more than 100 feet without stopping. He had to quit chef school. I helped him get CPAP and other treatment and now he works 50 hours a week. It makes me feel good because I know I helped him.” - Chris Albers, MD
“I think it’s neat that patients really appreciate that we listen to them. One of my patients got me a blanket for my new baby – which is really something because my patient doesn’t have a lot of money, yet still thought of me." - Mark Andolina, MD
Four reasons clinic is great:
4. We bond with our class, ancillary care staff and attendings.
3. This place is cutting edge; the Mayo Clinic came to visit us.
2. With EMR, charting can happen remotely.
1. We learn about the doctor-patient relationship in medical school, but live it in Long Block. - Peter Dryer, MD
“On my last clinic day a patient I had followed with spinal stenosis said to me 'I think we’ve had a breakthrough. I can go out with my children, go to church with my family, and my family says I’ve been smiling more.’ I really felt the patient had trusted me to follow my suggestions, and I helped improve her life through our relationship.” - Yvette Neirouz, MD
“The thing I enjoy most about our resident practice at the Hoxworth Clinic is the time and opportunity we have to truly develop strong doctor-patient relationships. Our patients are truly ours and even they think so. I have a patient who had been admitted to the cardiology service for over week to titrate her blood pressure medications. When I then saw her as a follow-up and noted her blood pressure was running high, I went over her discharge medications. She informed me she wasn't taking any of the medicines prescribed by the doctors during her admission. She said ‘they aren't my doctors, you are and I wanted you to tell me which ones to take.’" - Lauren Duerk, MD
“This year in clinic has been a very special experience. I have had the opportunity to build some close doctor-patient relationships and have seen the importance of knowing our patient's own goals. For instance, I have a patient I started seeing late in my intern year who I manage for her hypertension and severe depression, both of which have been very difficult to control. Now that I have had the opportunity to see her more often, she told me that she didn't care much about her medical problems, all she wanted was to be able to go to Mexico to meet with her family, and she just didn't have the energy to do so. We worked on her problems from that angle, and by focusing on her goals, we were able to better manage her depression and at the same time her HTN came under control. She recently returned from her trip, stating that it would not have been possible without our interventions in clinic.” - Kashif Ahmed, MD
“Now that I’m saying goodbye to all of my patients I realize they really listened to me. At least three or four patients wanted to give me a hug and tell me I was the best doctor they ever had.” - Kevin Connelly, MD
“The most rewarding part of our clinic is the close relationship with your patients. I am going to continue my clinic practice in my third year even though I don’t have to because I feel I have an obligation to them. I want to be their doctor.” - Karim Dajani, MD
“When I started as an intern I had a difficult patient with multiple complaints at every visit. I didn’t like seeing him at first. Then I spent time with him, and listened to him, and now he’s one of my favorite patients. The important lesson is to take time and listen to your patients.” - Jared Hagaman, MD
“When I came here the experience was overwhelming, but my participation in the Academic Chronic Care Collaborative and the Chronic Care Model has really helped me and my patients maintain focus.” - Elizabeth Jungst, MD
“There have been a lot of meaningful moments in my outpatient practice. I formed many close relationships over the years. A number of my patients said they wanted to follow me to my next practice, and that is a very rewarding feeling” - Matt Hartig, MD
“One patient told me that no other physician has ever spent more than five minutes with him. He can’t afford to pay the clinic, so he brings in a Pepsi each visit to give to me. One time he actually showed up to his appointment but left before I could see him because he had forgotten his Pepsi!” - Christian Tencza, MD
“I had a follow-up with a patient with pancreatic cancer. I gave her the diagnosis, and helped her through the illness. When I referred her to the oncologist she said ‘I’ll be sure to call you because you are the doctor that has been there for me from Day One.’ This made me feel like I had made an impact in her life in a good way despite a bad situation, and that her visits were more than just giving her medications.” - Paul Laflam, MD
“The most rewarding thing is to develop a relationship with a patient, and see that pay off with compliance and better health. If you spend time with someone one on one, and speak frankly, you can help them change. Today I saw a patient with difficult to control diabetes. After years of discussions I convinced her to go on insulin. I spoke to the pharmacist, walked her down the hall to the pharmacotherapist, and spent a good deal of time with her. Now she is starting glargine. I made a difference in her life.” - Karyn Dyehouse, MD
“One of my patients said to me ‘I don’t care what those medications are you gave me, I just like talking to you’. That made my entire career up to that point." - Jason Valent, MD
“I had a patient with severe arthritis who was progressively disabled by her disease. She became depressed, and eventually homebound. She gave up volunteering, and most things that she loved. After getting her on anti-depressants and arranging for social work support she improved. She got out of the house, started her volunteer work, and got her life back. One day she came in for a visit, and told me, ‘You are the best doctor ever.’” - Kelly Burghard, MD
"I had a very difficult and demanding patient with refractory cardiac and non-cardiac chest pain. He was always in the emergency department, always asking for pain medication, and always getting admitted to the hospital. He was the guy everybody hated to see on the schedule. I helped him get his pain under control, and he improved. He got a job, and eventually became a supervisor for a construction company. Most importantly he felt better and was able to stay out of the ER and the hospital. I feel great for the integral role I played in his care.” - Chris Duncan, MD
“I have a psychotic patient. One day she came into the ER and I had to go down there to see her because she wouldn’t speak to anyone. She said, ‘I want to see Dr. Bradley. She is my doctor.’ I have worked with her and now she has gone from being psychotic to giving herself insulin and checking her blood sugars. It makes me feel good to see her do so well.” - Debbie Bradley, MD
“I have always loved being a patient advocate. Anytime you can make things happen for people it’s satisfying. Recently I diagnosed a patient with an abscess that a lot of other doctors had missed. He came back and was effusive with his praise. It made me feel great.” - Mark Lusco, MD
“I have a patient who said she will follow me wherever I go. She said she’d be my first patient in private practice.” - Adam Mitchell, MD
“I almost single-handedly kept a patient with situs inversus and multiple admissions out of the hospital for 2 ½ years. I felt like I made a significant impact in her life. Another patient sent me flowers on my birthday.” - Lee Ann Merchen, MD
"Early in the year I helped several patients lose weight and they went from taking many medications for their diabetes to being diet controlled. My advice helped them achieve their goals.” - Alyce Oliver, MD
“One of my patients was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. She came to see me after her oncologist told her there was no more curative therapy. We spent an hour together discussing all of the options and finally she decided on hospice. She was at peace with her decision because of all the time we spent together. It made me feel good to help this woman during a difficult and important time in her life." - Drew Smith, MD
“Once you tell your patients that you’re leaving your practice at the end of your residency you really get a sense of how much they appreciate you. Many of them want to follow me wherever I go.” - Renee Lambert, MD