I understand wanting to eliminate special treatment for VIPs. But because the quality of hospital care varies so much - and is so complex - patients feel relief if they have a personal connection with a doctor or provider. I suspect most aren’t looking for concierge service, but an assurance that they are getting close and careful attention.
I witnessed the worst outcome for a ‘VIP’ as a surgical intern during my second ED rotation when the 10-year-old son of one of the surgical attendings was brought in after being hit by a car while riding his bike. By this time, late in the year, our team of residents were like a well oiled machine, quickly establishing the ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation), imaging with cassettes on the table (pre-CT) and getting the injured to the OR. Suddenly, all of the surgical attendings descended on the room, pushed all of us in training aside, squabbled over how to proceed while he laid motionless on the table without even an IV. We watched in horror, but unable to push back because of the politics of the situation, while the young boy died. He probably would have died anyway, but his VIP status certainly didn’t provide superior care.
What happens when everyone is a VIP or wants to be treated as one...as happens so often in India?
But on another note, we are humans and we will give some preferential treatment to, e.g. school teachers who taught you 20-30 years ago, parents of close friends who are out of the city or country and look to you to help them, your own colleagues, your mentors who you've always looked up to but are now your patients...they may not ask to be VIPs, but they become VIPs in your eyes...you will give them an extra 5 minutes, you will worry about them a little more if their problems are complex and you will likely lean more into your colleagues for them.
I agree that a patient may receive paradoxically worse care if their doctors are anxious to create the APPEARANCE of VIP care. However, if being treated as a VIP means patient outcome is at the forefront, can this be a bad thing? Speaking as a patient and not a doctor, I am woken up from restorative sleep for tests that could wait, my sleep is impeded by noise and light pollution that appears avoidable, the food is not nutritious, hand washing/surface disinfection are sometimes skipped, and the care seems fragmented, distracted, and poorly communicated.
I understand wanting to eliminate special treatment for VIPs. But because the quality of hospital care varies so much - and is so complex - patients feel relief if they have a personal connection with a doctor or provider. I suspect most aren’t looking for concierge service, but an assurance that they are getting close and careful attention.
I witnessed the worst outcome for a ‘VIP’ as a surgical intern during my second ED rotation when the 10-year-old son of one of the surgical attendings was brought in after being hit by a car while riding his bike. By this time, late in the year, our team of residents were like a well oiled machine, quickly establishing the ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation), imaging with cassettes on the table (pre-CT) and getting the injured to the OR. Suddenly, all of the surgical attendings descended on the room, pushed all of us in training aside, squabbled over how to proceed while he laid motionless on the table without even an IV. We watched in horror, but unable to push back because of the politics of the situation, while the young boy died. He probably would have died anyway, but his VIP status certainly didn’t provide superior care.
What happens when everyone is a VIP or wants to be treated as one...as happens so often in India?
But on another note, we are humans and we will give some preferential treatment to, e.g. school teachers who taught you 20-30 years ago, parents of close friends who are out of the city or country and look to you to help them, your own colleagues, your mentors who you've always looked up to but are now your patients...they may not ask to be VIPs, but they become VIPs in your eyes...you will give them an extra 5 minutes, you will worry about them a little more if their problems are complex and you will likely lean more into your colleagues for them.
Right on the mark.
Watch the movie "The God Committee"
👏👏👏👏Needed to be said. Are the crew that need to hear it listening, probably not. 😉
Loved the Doc's wording on explaining to the VIP why they would benefit from some anonymity😁 That's called finesse!
At the end of the day, there will always be those that believe they are VIP and deserve to be treated differently, and those that believe them.🤨
The rest of us will get on with taking care of business-patient/client care.😉
I agree that a patient may receive paradoxically worse care if their doctors are anxious to create the APPEARANCE of VIP care. However, if being treated as a VIP means patient outcome is at the forefront, can this be a bad thing? Speaking as a patient and not a doctor, I am woken up from restorative sleep for tests that could wait, my sleep is impeded by noise and light pollution that appears avoidable, the food is not nutritious, hand washing/surface disinfection are sometimes skipped, and the care seems fragmented, distracted, and poorly communicated.