I was really worried seeing this Tweet [in images]. Both for the patients reading this and about the doctor who wrote it.
If a patient is worried or sick or in pain, what does this doctor think they should do first:
Crowd-source medical opinion from social media?
“Dr. Google” your symptoms?
Check with your neighbour’s cousin’s friend’s uncle who once had almost the same thing?
An empowered patient is one who seeks qualified medical advice to look after their health.
I’d happily reassure 10 worried-but-thankfully-well patients a day to prevent missing those who “don’t want to be a bother” and delays seeking much-needed care.
And they do. There are so many patients that already delay seeking care due to media reports and fears of the Pandemic ED overcrowding, etc.
And I really worry about that poor GP and his level of #physicianburnout where he has been pushed to the point that he has forgotten that, as docs, we “Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always”. And that reassurance or comfort is the job and privilege we signed up to.
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And while many ED visits could be prevented by better access to #primarycare, if you don’t have access to primary care due to GP shortage, what are your options?
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