Like many healthcare providers, I got into our profession to help people. I also got into our profession because I have always been so curious about people’s lives and I knew it would be one in which I could never stop learning.
The thing about healthcare, is it is not black and white. I find that people want to sometimes put healthcare in a box – they want it to be one way or another or believe if it were one way or another, it would be best.
However, healthcare is about caring for people and that is not something you can completely systemize – it has to evolve and remain adaptable in relation to those who need it. That is where the care comes in.
I still find it fascinating and mind-boggling that with all of the advancements in healthcare, like the rise of digital health and technology, patients remain unheard. I know this because I am a witness to it on some level almost every day – in my everyday life, as I meet and listen to everyday people.
Through compassionate communication – listening presently, empathizing, being genuinely interested in your patients’ lives, and advocating for the best care possible – you will be able to identify when your patient needs your help without even having to physically assess them yet.
It is your patients’ story that validates reason for your clinical assessment, not your clinical assessment that validates their story. Remember to lead with this thought in mind and you will find yourself understanding more fully.
As your patient is sharing their story with you, listen for these 3 major functional changes that indicate they need your attention now:
1. Frequent Falls of Non-Mechanical Cause – When your patient reports a recent onset of their leg(s) or joint (s) randomly giving out and resulting in falls when they are otherwise healthy and have had no history to otherwise support it. This is not normal and warrants further work-up.
2. Cannot Stand Up – When your patient reports to you that they could not get up from their bed, couch, or toilet without physical help or extreme effort, it warrants deeper attention and investigation, especially when they have never experienced such a level of weakness before.
3. Changes in their Mobility and Endurance – When your patient explains to you that they normally walk 5 km a day and now cannot even tolerate walking in their home due to pain, breathlessness, fatigue, or weakness – you need to investigate the reason for this change. Do not attribute it to anything else (e.g., stress) until you’ve ruled all else out first.
I know there are many other functional textbook changes you can add to this list, but in reality, it is variable depending on your patients and their lifestyle. These are common examples I see in my life that leave people, patients, and caregivers feeling frustrated because no one is listening or trying to understand the nature of their significant changes. In extreme cases, it has even resulted in injury and further decline.
The answer to your patients’ concerns are most often found in their story. They usually hold the key. Even if you do not have the answer, you can lead them to the provider who might be better able to help. The biggest disservice we can do for our patients is leave them in limbo – with no guidance, with no follow-up, and with no follow-through.