Living with MS – Doctor Dilemnas
It would seem that I am a prime candidate for use as a scapegoat to answer the problem of doctors in Manitouwadge and why our community might have trouble getting them here. I received a letter this week that basically re-iterated a conversation (mostly one sided as I was not sure what the person speaking to me hoped to hear) that had taken place in the ER while I was there for bone pain in my legs/feet/hands/arms (same old) and needed to have a new order made for pain medications.
The doctor had brought to my attention that a recent locum had read my blog and been offended at comments I had written in regards to another ER visit with a locum. I apologized for any effect or stress this may have caused him/her but was honest about my intent to continue keeping my blog. I explained that this blog is away for me to generate income and possibly help others with MS (as I have found blogs I read about people living with multiple sclerosis are a huge support for me and help me feel less isolated) as I write among many other things, about living with the disease, how it affects my day-to-day life and what I do to try and cope and maintain some quality of life.
It would seem that there is some dissalusion that everyone visiting our hospital is quite pleased with how they are treated and the outcomes of their visits. I know this is not at all the case as I have met and been contacted, in part thanks to my blog, by many people who have stories much more serious or critical than my own about things that have left them quite dissatisfied, especially in regards to locums. I think there are many things that could be done to improve the situation but I’m just another patient what do I know.
I found it interesting that this letter invited me to approach those writing it if I had any concerns… I have on MANY occasions tried to bring my concerns to the attention of those whom I thought would help, to no avail. I contacted the ex-CEO of the hospital on several occasions regarding things that I was concerned about, to ask for details regarding certain hospital protocols mostly because I worry that while I am still relatively strong and have a good support system around me, there are people who aren’t and don’t and I wonder what happens to them. I also brought issues to the attention of some of those who sent me the letter, also to no avail, on some occasions I was assured that something would be done while nothing was, on another occasions I received no reply.
Since more people have become readers of my blog however, more specifically hospital or clinic staff things have changed. Concerns I had which I had brought to the attention of seemingly every level of staff at the hospital that went ignored have in the last months finally been addressed and I have seen changes and felt quite relieved but wondered if those changes applied only to me to quiet my typing or have been made accross the board (my english is such a nuisance, by this I mean for everyone being seen/treated @ MGH).
It would seem, from what I understand of the letter I received that those who sent it believe that my blog could deter doctors from coming to Manitouwadge. Getting doctors here has been a challenge for those charged with the task for as long as I can remember and long before I ever started blogging so to suggest that my blog would somehow be taken into account by a doctor considering working in Manitouwadge seems a little far fetched. I would think that the significant finiancial incentives offered by MGH to those they are trying to attract to Manitouwdge would make any comments by a disappointed patient seem irrelevant… I refer to an reference made in the Chronicle Journal in 1999 they speak of what had attracted another doctor to come practice in Manitouwadge…
Manitouwadge looked like greener pastures…
By Special Correspondent – The Chronicle-Journal
November 29, 2001
“He was also attracted to the compensation scheme that would see him become part of a three-person group of doctors paid $27,000 a month each.
After years in busy emergency rooms, “you’re no longer on the assembly belt – slowing down the pace would be great,” he testified.”
That’s right, no typo by me… The article actually says that in 1999 they were offering a doctor TWENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS a MONTH to work, if I read right, in our hospital (most likely, I would think, they would also have to work at the clinic or vice versa)!!!! WHAT??? Now this was presumably for someone who would be here in some permanent type function but I would think that locums are offered similarly attractive salaries and since it was ten years ago logic would have me think that financial compensations now being offered must be at the very least similar (most likely increased as even minimum wage has increased in the past 10 yrs). compensations now being offered must be at the very least similar (most likely increased as even minimum wage has increased in the past 10 yrs). I can say for myself that if my work involved an income per month that many people (certainly not me) do not see in an ENTIRE YEAR I could care less if people seeing my photographs or articles in papers (that is what I do for a living as a freelance photojournalist, although in the past couple of years, ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR I have found it very difficult to make ends meet as I have had difficulty finding options to dealing with the symptoms of MS more specifically fatigue and chronic pain, which would allow me to attend the events/rides that used to be the primary source for my articles… The post I have linked to above is a prime example of those difficulties) would criticize me I really could not imagine I’d care; what they might think of my photos, if they would comment that they preferred photographers that used different angles or writers that wrote in a different style… I am very certain that an income such as that would be enough to appease any bruises that my ego might suffer and I would hope the same would be true for anyone choosing to practice medicine in Manitouwadge.
So, I would hope now that perhaps you would share your experiences. If you wander through posts in my blog you will find I am often praising our nurses, doctors and other staff at the hospital as I believe in general ours is a wonderful hospital with caring people who are genuinely interested in helping the people they treat. I have had MANY good experiences (just today I was treated by nurses who are incredibly professional & caring) Having said that, there are no perfect people, perfect workplaces (hospitals or otherwise) and if people never share their negative experiences how are things to improve? SO, if you have an experience to share from a visit or appointment at the clinic or hospital, feel free to do so here. Keep in mind that people have a right to privacy so if you are going to include people’s names make sure they have approved such use, even if your comments are positive you must have their permission to use their name. If you do not have a person’s permission to use their name than just leave it out and tell of your experience without it.
I hope that my blog continues to be a source of information for those who seek it, inspiration for those in need and a good laugh if your day isn’t going as smoothly as it could.
