home visit

Last week, we were required to do a "home visit." We were assigned in groups of three to visit someone who has a chronic illness or cancer. I admit, I was a little anxious about it. We drove out of the city to a nursing home in a small town. We had to go into a woman's home and ask her questions not only about her illnesses, but how she perceives doctors and how she feels about our health care system. 

I am so glad I was required to do this, because otherwise I might not have been able to overcome my anxiety and speak with a lovely 87-year-old woman who was so positive and inspiring. Even with weakness in her legs, she still walks one mile every day. She worked as a minister for a long time, and now she paints and writes and makes sure to help other people. 

Her view of doctors is something I often forget to think about. She spoke about how growing up, doctors would just stop by the house if you fell and thought you hurt yourself. Doctors were her friends. Now, she said, doctors say "I'll meet you at the emergency room." If she calls her doctor the day after an appointment with a question she forgot to ask, the doctor doesn't have time to talk to her. She told us we need to "train our patients" so that they know how to help us help them. 

In some ways, I wanted to say that doctors aren't any better than other people. Doctors are flawed too. But sometimes I think much more is expected of us than other people. I don't really like the idolization that sometimes surrounds doctors. But at the same time, it reminds me of the enormous responsibility I will carry some day. Hopefully, with the advice of this woman and many other people who know much more than I do, I will be able to live up to that responsibility.