REFLECT
Model stories written by students
Identifying information about patients and providers has been altered for privacy
Different Language, Not Different Care
After visiting with a Spanish-speaking family, a student discovers that attitudes surrounding a difference in language, both from the provider and patient, can influence the delivery and quality of care.
Heads turned and friendly faces smiled as Sandra entered the hub where all the doctors, residents, nurses, and techs collaborate on patients’ cases. I was sitting with Dr. Parker as Sandra approached her and explained to the resident that they’d be working together the rest of the afternoon.
Empowerment Is Everything
After observing a provider interact with patient of low health literacy, a student begins to understand that empowering patients to be more autonomous in their healthcare is an important, and sometimes vital, part of the medical care that providers give to their patients.
It is essential that patients receive adequate medical care during their time interacting with healthcare providers. However, it is equally important that healthcare providers educate and empower their patients to take control of their own healthcare and to be involved in decisions about their health.
Little Things, Big Results
A student notices that the little details of a patient’s visit, from the smallest conversation to the biggest smile, have a profound impact on their overall care.
The hustle and bustle of a clinic can be overwhelming for some, especially when that clinic contains a very busy Starbucks store. Nurses grab their coffees as they get off shift, doctors in their white coats chat in small groups, and patients and their families sit quietly to the sides.
Rational Detachment
A student gains a new perspective on the benefits and challenges of providing care that is both professional and personal.
There was a thump and a yell and Sarah* was up in a second, three Mental Health Aides (MHA) following behind her, to see what the problem was. The unit in Long Point Psychiatric Hospital had otherwise been quiet, composed mostly of elderly patients, many of whom were suffering from dementia as well as other mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
A Patient Is a Person, No Matter How Broken
After observing a group of mothers suffering from opioid abuse, a student begins to understand how social labels have ultimately led to unequal medical care and biases.
When I first learned I would be visiting a family clinic to observe a group meeting for moms suffering from opioid addiction, I can genuinely say that I expected to get little out of my time there.