People’s perspective of an Emergency Care: Is it necessity or ignorance?
As a healthcare professional who has worked countless day and night shifts in emergency department. I came accross a different perspective of people. Towards doctors and especially towards emergency care management. Which took me lot of years to process.
As a doctor, we are trained in something called Triaging from the first day in Emergency Medicine. Triage is a scientific classification in accordance to the patient’s condition. So that the we could treat the patient who need immediate attention.
Triaging is divided into three Red, Yellow and Green Zones.
Red Zone (Emergency conditions which are life threatening and requires immediate attention)
Yellow (Urgent conditions which requires attention but can be delayed for some time and they are not life threatening )
Green (All conditions which are not urgent, care can be delayed)
Triage is practiced strictly and respected globally. Simply with the idea that a Heart Failure Patient do not have to wait for his medical care. Just because a patient with onset of Fever since 2 hours came prior to him.
But when it comes to application of the same system in India - it’s not that simple. Emergency for people simply means they are hurt, and they need immediate attention. Fear, panic is real. Watching your loved ones in pain is difficult. But there is patient’s pain and over worked exhausted doctor who is still doing his best. This shows how much healthcare system need to change.
I would like mention one incident. On one evening, where i was already working double shift. That patient came with a Grade 1 dog bite to his Right Leg. And at that time department was already swamped with critical red zone, urgent care patients in waiting. I assessed and examined him and advised the necessary treatment.
He waited there for me to recheck with him for almost three hours. Whilst I was managing critical patients.
I advised him the necessary treatment. Without cursing, frustration and yelling on me.
When I went back to him. I apologised him for the delay. For which he appreciated me for my work as a Doctor.
Between working grueling hours since the day you start practicing as a doctor. This kind of small appreciation starts to feel unfamiliar. And you don’t even know how numb you become over the years.
Indian doctors works in a Healthcare system which is understaffed, poor infrastructure and unsafe working environment. This shows the failure and flaws in the system.
Doctors should feel safe while serving the patients And patients do deserve compassion and care.
But I would still like to ask
Does that fear justifies people behaving so harsh and cruel towards already hard working Doctors? Is this necessary or the new normal?
MBH/PS