I'm pretty steamed about the incident. How 'bout a little RESPECT, people? Maybe an ounce of compassion? Would you just LISTEN to what I'm telling you?
In the past 2 1/2 years I've had three major surgeries, six or eight medical procedures and about 75 blood draws, each of which required a needle in a vein. I've always been a "hard stick" and these days the sticks are more difficult than ever. Why did the tech disregard my comments? Did he believe he could discover a blood vessel that the other dozens of techs couldn't find? Because I insisted that there would be no iffy attempts, at least I didn't have to suffer through another needle digging around under my skin, hopelessly searching for a vein that wasn't going to cooperate.
This tech isn't alone - the scenario occurs repeatedly. To the phlebotomists of the world, I say, Respect your patients and heed what they are telling you. Especially those of us with chronic illnesses - we already suffer enough.
Maybe, at the end of the day, it's simply putting the Golden Rule into play: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. As it applies elsewhere in life, this adage can work in the world of medicine. I, for one, will be grateful.
Showing posts with label respect. Show all posts
Showing posts with label respect. Show all posts
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Just Looking for a Little Respect from the Healthcare System and Its People
For the third week in a row I'm having to have blood work done, so yesterday I went to see the vampires (phlebotomists; it's my little nickname for them) at my local lab. A new tech insisted on searching both arms for veins, even though I showed him the ONE AND ONLY spot on my body where a vein can by found. He pinched my arms with those stupid rubber straps, had me pump my fists, wiped alcohol all around - and guess where the blood was drawn? Yep, exactly where I showed him to draw it in the first place.
I'm pretty steamed about the incident. How 'bout a little RESPECT, people? Maybe an ounce of compassion? Would you just LISTEN to what I'm telling you?
In the past 2 1/2 years I've had three major surgeries, six or eight medical procedures and about 75 blood draws, each of which required a needle in a vein. I've always been a "hard stick" and these days the sticks are more difficult than ever. Why did the tech disregard my comments? Did he believe he could discover a blood vessel that the other dozens of techs couldn't find? Because I insisted that there would be no iffy attempts, at least I didn't have to suffer through another needle digging around under my skin, hopelessly searching for a vein that wasn't going to cooperate.
This tech isn't alone - the scenario occurs repeatedly. To the phlebotomists of the world, I say, Respect your patients and heed what they are telling you. Especially those of us with chronic illnesses - we already suffer enough.
Maybe, at the end of the day, it's simply putting the Golden Rule into play: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. As it applies elsewhere in life, this adage can work in the world of medicine. I, for one, will be grateful.
I'm pretty steamed about the incident. How 'bout a little RESPECT, people? Maybe an ounce of compassion? Would you just LISTEN to what I'm telling you?
In the past 2 1/2 years I've had three major surgeries, six or eight medical procedures and about 75 blood draws, each of which required a needle in a vein. I've always been a "hard stick" and these days the sticks are more difficult than ever. Why did the tech disregard my comments? Did he believe he could discover a blood vessel that the other dozens of techs couldn't find? Because I insisted that there would be no iffy attempts, at least I didn't have to suffer through another needle digging around under my skin, hopelessly searching for a vein that wasn't going to cooperate.
This tech isn't alone - the scenario occurs repeatedly. To the phlebotomists of the world, I say, Respect your patients and heed what they are telling you. Especially those of us with chronic illnesses - we already suffer enough.
Maybe, at the end of the day, it's simply putting the Golden Rule into play: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. As it applies elsewhere in life, this adage can work in the world of medicine. I, for one, will be grateful.
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