Thursday, October 8, 2015

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PATIENT, RIGHT?

IN THE HOSPICE WORLD WE HAVE A SAYING, “IT’S NOT ABOUT US, IT’S ABOUT THE PATIENT.” WHO CAN ARGUE WITH THAT? WE EXIST TO SERVE PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IT IS OUR CALLING, IT IS OUR PASSION, AND IT IS WHY WE GET UP IN THE MORNING. THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. BUT, UPON REFLECTION, IS IT REALLY ALL ABOUT THE PATIENT AND FAMILY? HOPEFULLY, IT IS A GOOD BIT ABOUT YOU, TOO! LET’S EXPLORE WHY. IN HOSPICE CARE, EMOTIONS AND SPIRITS GET FRAYED BY A NUMBER OF THINGS:  WHAT WE BRING WITH US TO HOSPICE: OUR OWN BOX OF ROCKS: PERSONAL ISSUES, FAMILY ISSUES, FINANCIAL ISSUES, DISAPPOINTMENTS, FAILURES, LET DOWNS, AND QUIRKS OF PERSONALITY, TO NAME SEVERAL. HOW WILL ANY OF THESE AFFECT HOW YOU DO YOUR HOSPICE WORK?  WHAT SKILL SET WE BRING TO OUR DISCIPLINE: ARE YOU NEW TO HOSPICE? HAVE YOU TRANSFERRED FROM A HOSPITAL SETTING OR A PARISH PASTORATE, OR HOME HEALTH SETTING? WHEREVER YOU SERVED BEFORE COMING TO HOSPICE YOU WILL FIND IT TO BE DIFFERENT FROM WHERE YOU ARE NOW SERVING. FOR INSTANCE, THE HOSPITAL SETTING FOR NURSES IS VERY STRUCTURED. HOSPICE SETTINGS TEND NOT TO BE STRUCTURED. FOR PASTORS, YOU CALLED THE SHOTS. YOU SET THE AGENDA. IN HOSPICE, YOU ARE PART OF A TEAM. YOU NO LONGER SET ANY AGENDA, INSTEAD, YOU FOLLOW ONE. THOSE EXAMPLES ARE FROM MY OBSERVATION AND OWN EXPERIENCE.  WHAT EXPECTATIONS DO YOU HAVE? THERE ARE SOME WHO HAVE ROMANTICIZED HOSPICE CARE. YES, IT IS A WONDERFUL AREA OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION TO WORK IN. BUT, WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FROM THE COMPANY? THE TEAM? YOUR MANAGER? YOUR PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES? CAN YOU DEAL WITH NOT HAVING A DESK ASSIGNED TO YOU? CAN YOU DEAL WITH NOT BEING THE LEADER? LIST YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND THEN REVIEW THEM. WHERE DID THESE EXPECTATIONS COME FROM? CAN YOU ADJUST THEM TO FIT THE HOSPICE WORLD? I THINK YOU CAN SEE FROM THE THREE PARAGRAPHS ABOVE THAT, INDEED, HOSPICE IS ABOUT YOU, TOO. WE TAKE OURSELVES WHEREVER WE GO. FOR THE SAKE OF OUR PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, LET’S COMMIT TO OURSELVES, OUR COMPANY, AND OUR PATIENT AND THEIR FAMILIES, THE GREAT MISSION STATEMENT OF DAME CICILY SAUNDERS, THE FOUNDER OF THE MODERN HOSPICE MOVEMENT: “YOU MATTER BECAUSE YOU ARE YOU, AND YOU MATTER TO THE LAST MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE. WE WILL DO ALL WE CAN; NOT ONLY TO HELP YOU DIE PEACEFULLY, BUT ALSO TO HELP YOU LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE.”

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