Hi guys,
I am doing musculo outpatients at the moment and was confronted with an interesting situation. I have been treating a patient who had a left sided total knee replacement in December of last year, and she has been progressing quite well. On the Saturday morning just gone (Australia Day), I was at my local supermarket stocking up for the big weekend ahead, when I heard a voice call out from behind me, “Hi Stephen. Look how well I’m walking.” Sure enough, it was my patient from outpatients. I instantly froze and became quite confused as to what I should do...
a) I could have said a quick hello but informed my patient that I was unable to discuss any matters regarding her treatment due to confidentiality reasons.
b) I could have had a good old chat, and put my shopping cart down, and observed her walking.
c) I could have ignored her and ran away!
I decided to go with the first choice. I said hello, but told her that I was unable to discuss anything regarding our work at outpatients. I was seeing her early in the coming week, so I simply said I’ll see you during the week and have a great weekend.
I was not exactly sure as to how I should have responded in that situation. If anyone knows what to do if it happens again, I’d love to know. Thanks guys.
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2 comments:
Hey Steve,
I reckon you made the right choice. It wouldn't have been appropriate to start Rx in the middle of the store. Pt's need to know that we are on our own time as well and that there are boundaries to what is acceptable. If I were placed in your position I would likely do the same.
Good work.
Brent
Hey Steve!
As long as it’s not Choice ‘C’, it is the right choice! Haha… The third choice doesn’t seem very professional, you reckon? Ahaha…Well, it was definitely a good situation to be in compared to a patient telling us in public how our treatment didn’t so quite work out…??? That is the worst thing that can ever happen to us huh? So, Good for U! =D
I actually understand ‘confidentiality’ as not discussing/disclosing patient’s particulars to others in public so I guessed in this case, you are saying that although it does not involve ‘others’, but should you start discussing with your patient, others could hear and therefore it is also a breach of confidentiality?
I guessed for me I will go “Oh that’s great! This means what YOU have been doing so far works so keep it up!’ Then I will quickly digress to other casual topics but keep it short (because like what Brent said, we need time to ourselves too. To ‘recuperate’ from patients... :P) before ending like what you did! Perhaps I might have a quick glimpse of her gait during our chat if possible to pick up the improvement but in a discreet manner (she might feel embarrassed if we draw too much attention to her walking?) so as to have an idea on her progression :D
All the best to your next placement Steve!
Cheers Peiying ~
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