Do Patient’s Labs Happen TO YOU? Or Are You Normal?
Jun 29, 2024
This morning I got up early, and logged into the EMR for heading out on some travels; I wanted to check for anything I needed to handle before I would be off the grid.
Some new lab results had arrived, all red.
I looked at the patient’s name, took a breath, and just nodded my head. Yep, that’s not surprising….
What struck me today however is that I took a look at them, compared them to last time, thought about what she told me, and I just thought “Yes, this makes sense.”
This thought is a new thought pattern for me. And as I realized that I was having new thoughts pop in without practice in this circumstance, I smiled.
This was a change for me, because in the past I would have grimaced, and felt RESPONSIBLE for the results. That they were my fault. That I was a bad doctor.
Now, I am responsible for them in the sense that it is my job to communicate them to her, to check for understanding, to offer her different treatment options and my recommendations. Those things are my work.
But what’s NOT my work, and what I have now fully embraced is that I did not cause these results, and ultimately, it’s not up to me. It’s up to her.
She’s a capable adult with health insurance, and she knows how to schedule an appointment to talk through different treatments with me functioning as her expert consultant.
She is a human being who has lived in the world for 72 years, she’s followed a healthy diet previously (and seen improvements in her cholesterol, blood sugars, blood pressures, etc). She’s also not followed a healthy diet at times, including recently, and these tests reflect that.
She’s chosen, at times, to take medications recommended to her. She’s also chosen to not take them at times, and she has seen the difference, good and bad, that the medicines make.
So I’m here to work with her if she would like, but these tests are hers, not mine. And as I messaged them to her, I included my hope for her that she chooses to work with me to help reduce her health risks. And then I let them go.
Her results did not happen to me. Not anymore.
Hi There!
I'm Megan. I'm a Physician and a Life Coach and a Mom. I created this blog to help other Physicians and Physician-Moms learn more about why they feel exhausted, burned-out and overwhelmed, and how to start to make changes. I hope that you enjoy what you read, and that it helps you along your journey. And hey, if you want to talk about coaching with me, I'm here for that too! I offer a free 1:1 call to see if we are a good fit. Click the button below to register today.
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