Note: certain details have been omitted to protect patient identity. Try using your imagination?
I made my way through the dimly-lit corridor and, followed closely by [associate name], I entered the patient’s room. Dr. [Anglo-Saxon] greeted us both and motioned silently to [patient name]. On the bed in front of me lay a [age] [gender] from [small town or city], home of the [eccentric sculpture or sports team]. I had reviewed the chart just a couple of hours prior, and so I knew they had a history of [chronic condition #1], [chronic condition #2], and [vice], and that they had presented to the [place of healing] [duration] ago with [symptom], [injury], and [general annoyance]. I took stock of how they were doing. In truth, the situation did not look [descriptor]. The [expensive brand-name medication] was [verb] the [noun] in their [part of body], and because of it, the [condition] was getting [descriptor]. I looked into their [parts of body]. They looked back, [parts of body] full of [strong emotion], welling up with [liquid or drink]. What were we to do? We were only [profession] students.
Then, something happened. The monitor flashed [adverb], and the patient’s [clinical sign] jumped to [random number between -1000 and 1000]. I exchanged a look of [emotion] with [associate name]. I knew I had to do something. With [positive character trait], I yelled for Dr. [Anglo-Saxon] who, thankfully, was able to solve the [description of situation].
“Thanks for [verb] me in, [author name]. That was the right call. Not bad, for a [point in course of training] [profession] student.”
“[Expression of gratitude]. But what happened?”
“It seems like their [chronic condition #2], combined with the [expensive brand-name medication] they started [duration] ago, interacted and produced a rare [noun]-effect. [Patient name], are you feeling [adjective suggesting normalcy]?
“[Response]. I am [description of level of gratitude] that you were able to fix the [description of situation]. For a [timeframe] there, I [verb suggesting belief] that I [verb]. [Repeated statement of gratitude].”
[Statements of relief]. My [noun meaning “feelings”] of [feeling] had [verb]. At long last, it was time to go [comforting location]. As I [verb] on my journey to become a [profession], I will [frequency] [verb meaning “remember”] the [lesson learned] that [patient name] [verb meaning “impart”] [preposition] me.
Writing about this is more crucial now than ever. I share my experience with this patient not just as a way to process my own emotions, but as a way that I can affect how healthcare students and professionals approach patient care. I hope that my words can empower or even provide solace to another student in their time of need. I hope our candid stories can move you and effect real change in our ailing system. Above all, I hope that the lessons I have relayed in my telling can inspire you in your future practice, just as they have inspired me.
If not, well… make up some new ones.
Ian Ong is an MS2 at the Perelman School of Medicine.
Art by Jenelle Safadi, an MS3 at the Perelman School of Medicine.
