There’s nothing more frightening than having a loved one in the hospital and feeling clueless. You keep missing the attending physician despite arriving early in the morning. The nurse is so busy caring for other patients that she doesn’t have … Continue reading →
When I began practicing as a hospitalist physician my patients’ family members would routinely ask, “When is her regular doctor coming to see her?” They were happy with the care I provided but wanted to see a familiar face. Today, … Continue reading →
Several years ago my mother-in-law was hospitalized with severe pneumonia. She was very ill, her condition was unstable, and the doctors began to suspect an underlying respiratory condition. There were multiple specialists involved and it was nearly impossible to get … Continue reading →
My father began to show signs of dementia in his early 60s. Within a few years, he was missing dialysis appointments and not taking good care of himself. When my sisters and I started accompanying him to his … Continue reading →
Imagine the following scenario: Your grandfather suffers a severe stroke and the doctors tell your family he will never wake up. The entire family is devastated and heartbroken. Your grandmother has had numerous conversations with him and knows he would … Continue reading →
In Simon Sinek’s iconic book Start with Why he states, “Regardless of WHAT we do in our lives, our WHY– our driving purpose, cause or belief– never changes.” So I am going to start with my WHY. Two months … Continue reading →
Make sure the medical team has the information they need 