Medical Field Workers Share Things They Wish More People Understood

I’m a psychologist, so not strictly medical, but adjacent. I wish people understood that PTSD can be cured! We have amazing treatments and you can have hope for your future. You’re not alone in this.

Exercise, exercise, exercise. also, if you have diabetes, please take management seriously. you may lose limbs or have to deal with severe, chronic infections if you don’t. also for young people, sunscreen in your youth will make a big difference in how you look at 40-60.

D***h is not the worst thing that can happen to someone. Why are we working so hard to keep someone alive just for them to spend the rest of their life in pain, unable to do the things they want to do, and bankrupt? 

I’ve made it very clear to my spouse that if I’m ever in a situation that will leave me permanently disabled with a poor quality of life, just let me pass in peace. Don’t prolong the misery.

As an EMT, I wish more people understood that coming in the ambulance does not mean you'll be seen right away. 
The amount of times I've had a patient say "I could've drove myself or got a ride but I didn't feel like sitting in the waiting room" is genuinely upsetting.

Most of our diagnostics are to rule out really bad things, not necessarily figured out definitely what is happening. For example can figure out your chest pain isn’t a heart attack or big clot or cancer, etc but we may not figure out the exact cause of some symptoms.

While recovery in the hospital should be comfortable, we are not a high end hotel. If lab draws are to be drawn at 4am, I will wake you up to draw.

If the physician ordered q2 vitals and blood glucose checks, I am waking you up to get them.

If you are on a low sodium diet, no I cannot just order you a cheeseburger.

I understand that you are having a bad time, but on a critical care floor, you need to be monitored more closely. Don't take it out on the staff. The amount of a***e I have endured is insane. I am not on 'a power trip' I am trying to keep your a*s alive.

We also get frustrated with 20 minute appointments. It’s not enough time in majority of cases.

Pharmacist. If you're sick, you're going to feel sick (and thats OK). No combination of OTC meds is going to miraculously cure you, it may just help make the day more tolerable.

Too many people want the instant fix and won't slow down to let their body heal.

Know what medications you take, and why. So many people have little to no insight into what they are prescribed. And no, having a fairly normal blood pressure because you are taking 3 pills for hypertension does not mean you don’t have high blood pressure.

We can't solve all your problems.

Your insurance is not your friend. It’s your enemy. It’s creating a divide between you and your provider.

I wouldn't ask you these questions if I didn't have to for my job. I'm not going to judge whatever you tell me, and if I could have gotten the info from previous notes of ppl you already told this to, I would much prefer to do that than speak to you. But ppl you speak to don't write down everything you tell them and sometimes, there's conflicting information and I need to check with you. Doctors also make mistakes and miss things, like a regular human, so I am just checking. Treating me with condescension or suspicion doesn't achieve anything... With love, your pharmacist. .

I absolutely understand that you are/your loved one is having a terrible time- yelling at me/my colleagues does not help your situation in any way shape or form. If we could have assisted you faster/better/differently we more than likely would have. Your priorities are not our priorities even though it feels like they should be. Google doesn’t dictate the services or treatment you receive or the diagnosis you are given. I am sorry. I really am. I am not your servant. I am a highly educated, well trained professional. Thanks.

I really need you to have all your paperwork filled out. It is absolutely necessary for me to have an updated HIPAA compliance form on hand in case I have to speak with your family members.

This ain’t a d**n hotel and we’re not your waiter. Your insurance does not entitle you to anything other than medical care. People think the hospital should be like The Hilton.

That the few hours it takes to get lab results in the ER *is* expedited. It still takes time to run the tests.

There are people who go to the emergency rooms for REAL emergencies..you may have to wait a while to be seen by your provider bc they are actually prioritizing their patients by critical needs.

Just because someone has good vital signs and is talking doesn’t mean their COPD, ESRD, CAD, CHF, and cancer is going away. They need actual goals of care.

If you come to the hospital for a specific problem that is what we are going to focus on. We are not diving into every ailment you have.

There are fates worse than d***h.