Seeking Medical Care During the COVID-19 Crisis
By Laura Shamp
Many of us will be interfacing with the medical system in the coming weeks dealing with complications from COVID-19 either for ourselves or a loved one, and I wanted to answer some questions some of you have been asking about how to make sure you are doing your part to get the best care possible in these uncertain times.
I have been handling medical negligence cases for over 25 years and have a master’s degree in Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health where I studied patient safety. Often when people come to me after they or a loved one has experienced an unexpected outcome after medical treatment, they simply do not know why they or their loved one suffered what they did or what led to their poor result. Often busy medical professionals fail to explain what might be happening or fail to explain it in terms that lay people can understand. Here are some tips that you should follow when seeking medical treatment now and anytime.
Ask Questions – Sometimes patients are hesitant to ask too many questions if the doctor seems busy or stressed. But remember you are a customer and you are entitled to understand what is going on, what the treatment plan is and what options you have. Often doctors speak in medical jargon until someone asks them to explain in layman’s terms. If pressed, physicians are almost always able to relay the information in a way we can understand. If a doctor is not willing to take the time to answer your questions and explain what is going on, that is a red flag.
Speak to the Doctor - Importantly you need to get information regarding your condition and your treatment from the doctor not from the nursing staff. The nursing staff is there to carry out physicians’ orders. If the doctor seems to round at a different time every day and you can never catch him or her (a frequent problem) ask the nurse to have the doctor call you when he rounds, or ask for his number so you can call him. If you or your loved one is hospitalized, someone should speak to a doctor every day to monitor any changes in condition, treatment plan or options available.
Ask for Options – Often there is more than one equally effective approach to treating a condition. Sometimes busy physicians do not take the time to detail those options unless you ask.
Make Choices — Make choices for your care that suit your particular situation. Often doctors will give you treatment options and then make a recommendation. But his or her needs and desires may not align with your own. Be an active participant in treatment decisions and let your doctor know what your priorities are. This is especially important around end of life care decisions. Studies have shown that 80% of Americans state that they would prefer to die at home, and yet only 20% do.
Take Notes – If you are meeting with your physician, or he or she is making rounds while you are hospitalized, and he or she is giving you information, it makes sense to write that information down so that you can refer to it later. You may want to look something up or discuss something that one physician said with another physician; notes will help you do that. It’s a great idea if you have a loved one in the hospital to leave a notepad by the bed for family members to take notes about conversations with doctors, changes in treatment plans and changes in your loved one’s condition. These can be invaluable to helping the family stay informed and in understanding what happened after the face.
Bring someone with you to your appointment to take notes – With COVID 19 I know there are some restrictions on this, but when you are ill or anxious you might not have the capacity to follow what you are being told. Another person who you trust can take notes and ask questions and help you remember when you get home.
Ask before you get any medication - Finally, anytime you are given a medication you need to ask what you are being given and why. Countless times errors have been avoided when a patient asks what they are about to be given and it was the wrong medication or the patient was allergic. You always have the right to refuse a medication. This basic step can potentially avoid a catastrophic result.
Stay safe everyone and as always, our law firm is open and ready to help.
