2024-04-09 04:52:43
She adds that the doctor’s path is not paved with roses. A good specialist needs discipline, patience and determination to constantly improve, to keep up with medical innovations.
“It’s not easy, but the return is huge: recovered patients and the realization that you could help someone – the real currency of medicine,” E.Trapenskė is convinced.
The news portal lrytas.lt is preparing the project “Thank you to the doctors”, the accompanying series of publications will introduce health care specialists who are sensitive to patients’ problems. You can write a thank you to your favorite doctor in the inviting subpage: Thanks to the doctors.
– Surveys and investigations link the medical sector with corruption. Have there been unpleasant situations in your practice when a patient tried to thank you inappropriately?
– I think that in the relationship with the patient, professionalism and boundaries are important – so that the patient understands that everything that is done for his health is done with attention and empathy; and that it is part of the medical profession – no need to “thank” for it.
The only expectation from the patient is cooperation, listening and implementation of recommendations so that we have an optimal treatment result through joint efforts. There is no greater gift to a physician than a healed patient, and his work is remunerated in the same manner as all other works.
– I read the feedback: the patient was happy that you gently performed the endoscopic examination. And can a doctor be rude?
– I notice that patients who come for this examination expect care, clarity and patience – sometimes it takes time until we “come to an agreement” with the patients, discuss all the nuances of the examination, and achieve inner calm. I always try to fulfill all this, I am happy when I succeed.
– For example, gastric endoscopy is surrounded by various myths. Do you often see fear in the eyes of patients?
– Many situations in medicine are sensitive to the patient: he comes to the doctor feeling bad, worried about his health, the future, the procedures that await him. The burning question is: will it hurt or will it be unpleasant?
In my practice, I have noticed that every detail is important to the patient in those moments: the tone of the doctor’s voice, how he supports or clearly explains what to expect during the procedure, what will be done, what the sensations will be. It is also important what kind of contact is maintained during the procedure itself – how the patient is encouraged and the course of the procedure is explained. In my own experience, many patients after the examination are happy that the procedure was much easier than they expected or read on the Internet.
On the other hand, there are patients who do not tolerate this test due to certain anatomical or psychological characteristics. Most often, they have already encountered a gastroscopy and are worried when they have to repeat it – in this case, we have an alternative to the examination with anesthesia.
– The work of doctors is loudly commented on, people do not shy away from gossiping and complaining. Can a doctor be good for everyone?
– In my opinion, the desire to be good is flawed in itself, there are many dangers lurking in it: after all, the most important thing in every job is to do one’s job professionally and with maximum dedication, not to please others. The doctor’s duty is to represent the patient’s health interest – for this, the doctor has been studying for 10 years or more, improving every year at conferences, courses, and trainings in order to know the intricacies of his profession, to be able to help the patient, to be his health advocate.
We have to admit that patients don’t always know what’s best for their health – that’s what we, doctors, are for: to give advice, to help them get well, and not to prescribe a medicine that “helped the neighbor a lot”, but might not suit you at all or even be harmful to your health.
Therefore, it is especially important to find your doctor, whom you can trust and rely on his decisions when you get a chronic disease. A relationship based on trust and care between the doctor and the patient is very important, which always creates an excellent recovery result.
Personally, I am never ashamed to tell a patient that in case of a complex health situation, I intend to consult with my colleagues from other fields or refer the patient for a colleague’s consultation, so that we can tailor the optimal treatment to him – this holistic approach to the patient’s health creates more value.
– Patients notice that doctors eventually get tired of the routine. Your enthusiasm hasn’t faded yet?
– On the contrary! Maybe it’s also related to the specifics of the job: I work in an inpatient facility, in a polyclinic, I also perform endoscopy and do administrative work – the routine doesn’t even smell here, it’s great.
In general, medicine is a field that is constantly improving and changing, new treatment and diagnostic methods appear, so it is very important to feel the pulse of these changes, to constantly learn, improve knowledge and skills. Of course, working with people in any field can be tiring, so it’s important to have a personal life, people close to you, and activities where you can relax.
– You often visit medical conferences abroad. Have you noticed that the intestinal problems of Lithuanian patients differ from those of other countries, that certain diseases and disorders are more common in our country?
– It should be noted that the frequency of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases is increasing both in the world and in Lithuania. For example, the cases of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease in Lithuania have increased more than threefold in the last 10 years. However, the other good news is that the awareness of these diseases has increased significantly, so patients are more often referred to a gastroenterologist at the very beginning of the disease – then we have better treatment results, these diseases are easier to manage, fewer exacerbations and a lower frequency of complications.
There is also an increasing amount of knowledge about the relationship between the gut microbiota and the development of certain diseases. The diversity of the intestinal microflora is extremely important, so patients have to be reminded that the excessive, irrational use of antibiotics affects the diversity of the intestinal microflora, the growth of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, so it is very important to use antibiotics prescribed according to the indications.
– The spring warmth that arrived in Lithuania has already started the grilling season. It happens that people even put a bite of burnt meat on their plate. How is it harmful to the digestive system?
– Indeed, during the summer, gastroenterologists treat patients with pancreatic inflammation significantly more often in the hospital, who become sick after eating a lot of burnt grilled dishes, and often in combination with alcohol – this sometimes becomes an unbearable burden on the pancreas, they get pancreatitis – pancreatitis.
It should also be mentioned here about smoked products, which should not be abused, because they increase the risk of developing such acute diseases as pancreatitis, gastritis, and in the long term, excessive use of these products increases the risk of developing intestinal cancer.
– From mild food poisoning to cancer diagnosis, the range of competences of a gastroenterologist seems to be wide. How do you not get lost?
– The truth is, often just talking to the patient is not enough to be able to accurately determine the illness. Why? Because we risk, relying on the sudden onset of symptoms, to write off the disease as a temporary acute health disorder, although it may be the beginning of a complex disease.
This requires more detailed tests, which are usually non-invasive, leading us to further decisions: whether other complex or interventional tests are needed (such as colonoscopy, gastroscopy, computer tomography, magnetic resonance, etc.), whether symptomatic treatment will be enough, and after a week, a repeat visit is scheduled , the patient will arrive feeling completely healed.
Undoubtedly, there are certain “alarm” symptoms that make us suspect complex diseases and oblige us to immediately take intervention tests. I must note, with years and experience comes a faster and more accurate diagnosis: the mind is the humble servant of intuition. I believe that the fact that I have the opportunity to work with patients both in the inpatient and outpatient settings also contributes – it broadens my horizons.
– What do you devote your time to when you close the office door?
– I am a passionate fan of architecture, theater and traveling around the world, so my thoughts after work usually revolve around “where next?” (smiling).
2024-04-09 04:52:43