What the ?!?

This is the story of Mdm O.

Mdm. O. is a 69-yr-old lady, highly independently and community ambulant.

On the fateful morning of 22nd June, she woke ard 6 plus am to go to the toilet. On standing, she felt giddy, and subsequently fell beside her bed. She managed to help herself onto the bed and found that she was unable to bear weight on left leg. Her daughter-in-law admitted her to the hospital, and she was diagnosed with (L) intertrochanteric fracture. Earlier on 18th june, she had just been discharged for hypoglycaemia.

I had been planning my treatment plan to that of a typical hip fracture pathway, you had been with me. My treatment plan, implementing my treatment session, and my presentation slides (it must have been at least 4 times that I showed them to you) later on...I saw this patient for 4 sessions, we worked on dressing, functional mobility, functional single-leg standing, falls prevention strategies, and she was subsequently discharged to a community hospital.

During presentation, I didn't mind being bombarded ceaselessly with questions, b'cos I understand that everybody wanted to facilitate my learning (reasoning...etc.). Later on, I went aside and broke down, not b'cos I couldn't accept feedback. What I simply couldn't take it was the countless balant loopholes in my treatment and clinical reasoning, was only picked up on the last week of my attachment!!!

It made me really ponder, what have I been doing? We're dealing with people here!!! Aren't you supposed to be watching over me? How this happen!?!? Her diabetes's poorly controlled for goodness's sake ! That's why she fell !! Why wasn't such a primary issue addressed? Why didn't I speak to the diabetic nurse ?!? Argh !!! I feel for the people I see, that's why I'd be hard on myself for this error. Haven't you learnt, "Above all (healthcare ethics), cause no harm!?!".