An excellent article by Dr. Cuthbert Teo in the September issue of the SMA News.
I'm sure many of us have encountered "special" patients at some point in our career, and that our experiences range from pleasant to downright harrowing.
I personally find the vast differences in how people handle fame and power interesting.
Most recently, I heard how a certain not-that-well-known F1 driver displayed quite the attitude at the ER, causing those who recounted the event to grimace.
Compare this to another driver who ranks much higher on the list of championship contenders, whom I had the pleasure of meeting during his visit to the ER, and who charmed us all with his respectful demeanour and beautiful manners.
Local celebs have also passed through on and off. Again, there're those who want to be treated like normal civilians -- I once treated an elderly man who's related to a very nice actress from the TV series Growing Up -- and those who kick up a major ruckus and make a scene so their demands will be entertained ( a certain TV show host who's a household name in our country ).
Politicians, however, are the true VVIPs.
Every time there's an international meeting for whatever reason, a certain hospital is assigned for emergency medical coverage purposes.
I can understand the need to expedite care for these delegates, but question the prudence of fast-tracking a stable patient and using up a resus panel, when a much sicker case needs more urgent attention.
The number of senior specialists, nursing officers and public relations personnel swarming around the ER when a VIP / VVIP arrives also makes me wonder how much more efficiently the system could function if we cared as much for our many "lower-profile" patients.
Also, let's not forget that in the event of a major disaster, it's very likely that resources will be prioritized such that VIPs / VVIPs will receive medical care in a more timely fashion compared to other mere mortals.
A small price to pay for their invaluable contributions to society? Maybe it's just me, but I think the right thing for a VIP / VVIP to do would be to decline such special treatment at a public hospital, especially when resources are being stretched. Surely being managed at a private hospital would be considered acceptable and perhaps more appropriate?
Last but not least, the fact that a certain ER's staff are on standby 24/7 to make non-urgent house calls to a retired politician's home, even during busy night shifts when manpower is minimal, is something that should be looked into, and preferably stopped.
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A certain VVIP from an oil-rich state once came under the care of one of my former consultants. He was so grateful for the care he recevied he insisted on giving the consultant a gift.
The consultant was of course reluctant to accept anything more than his usual fees (this was before the faculty practice scheme, you understand), but found it hard to say no. In the end, he asked for a set of golf clubs, since he had recently taken up the hobby and thought it would make a rather modest gift.
Two weeks went by with no word from the VVIP, which the consultant thought was rather odd. Then one afternoon he received a letter (this was before email, you understand) post-marked from the oil-rich state.
In the letter, marked with the letterhead of the oil-rich state, his patient apologised for the delay, saying:
"... but I finally managed to find you a set of five golf clubs, although one of them lacks a pool."
(Yes, it's a joke. But I did once have a registrar who worked on the floor a VVIP from an oil-rich state stayed on - when he left everyone who worked on that floor, from the cleaner to the consultant, received a full set of silver dinnerware.)
Do you think doctors should get expedited care so they can get back to their official duties?
I remember a very lively debate on this in the coffee room: e.g. the doctor who has had a needlestick injury from a bloody needle. But the poor doctor is still on duty and his/her patients would suffer if he queued for 3 to 4 hours, even though the injury is not an emergency. So the queueing time is a bit shorter. Is this fair?
"Also, let's not forget that in the event of a major disaster, it's very likely that resources will be prioritized such that VIPs / VVIPs will receive medical care in a more timely fashion compared to other mere mortals. "
Which country are you referring to? Sounds a lot like USA (Obama will get special care while in office), UK and many other countries around the world.
"Last but not least, the fact that a certain ER's staff are on standby 24/7 to make non-urgent house calls to a retired politician's home, even during busy night shifts when manpower is minimal, is something that should be looked into, and preferably stopped."
Do you mean that Ronald Reagan had such coverage?
Anyway if Gordon Brown in UK went to a private hospital, I am sure the entire of the UK would be up in arms, since it would mean that the UK VIPs have no confidence in the UK public healthcare system.
I know a certain surgeon who received a porche after treating a royal from a certain oil-rich state. However, this occured after he was in private practise...he still zips around in it now.
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