Over the years I have been asked to care for many ‘VIPs’ (Very Important Persons). We all probably have different definitions of what qualifies a person as a ‘VIP’. I ask myself frequently why we use this term. Personally, I abhor the term and the concept of the ‘VIP’.
What makes someone a VIP? Do these people define themselves as VIPs? What standards do we use to categorize a patient as a VIP? Fortunately, I do not care for too many patients who consider themselves VIPs. While I am able to take care of such people, I often find it draining, unpleasant, and relatively unrewarding.
Some of my favorite VIPs were patients no one else would consider a VIP. They were VIPs because they became very important to me. I would much rather spend extra time and effort trying to deliver extraordinary care to the patient hospitalized with complications of HIV, who is lonely and scared because their family abandoned them after their diagnosis. Or, the homeless alcoholic who needs someone to care enough to, just one last time, offer the rehabilitation help they really need. I will always find it much more rewarding to spend time with someone who has literally saved money for months to see me because they have no health insurance, know they need to take better care of their diabetes and are scared that they won’t be alive to see their children grow up than another 'VIP'. These people (who generally consider themselves VIPs, even if I do not) often add a narcissistic edge to the doctor-patient relationship.
I have also cared for some patients who would be considered VIPs by most, but do not think of themselves as VIPs: the governor’s child, well-known athletes, and the best known radio announcer in town. Most VIPs ask for nothing special. They have selected me their physician and are able to act appropriately, without making any extra demands.
Those who declare themselves VIPs are the most challenging, for they (or hospital administration) often expect a different level of attention.
So, please know that when you ask me to care for a ‘VIP’, what adjustments should you expect from me regarding their care? Very little. In terms of the medical care I provide, I can recall no differences at all. I do my best to provide the highest quality care and attention to all patients I see.
We are all, at the end of the day, just people. None of us is any more ‘important’ than another.
Monday, February 02, 2009
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How refreshing to hear that, all to often people think someone who is known is important. The reality is the unknowns are more usually much important. The knowns can give a short term kick to an ego the unknowns can impart a long term lesson which is usually much more valuable, even if it is only a smile given from the heart.
ReplyDeleteI work in a hospital that would put a VIP sign on a patients door--just to remind everyone. I often wondered what the non-VIP patients thought when they went by the VIP's room and saw the sign......
ReplyDeleteMy mother is a very normal person... you wouldn't look at her twice on the street. She was shot several times 10 years ago in an incident that was prominent in the news for weeks. During her 16 days in the hospital, she was given so-called VIP treatment for security and privacy reasons. This basically meant a private room even on step down, her name was not displayed on the patient boards and when she was moved from step down to a regular room, she was put in one of the more secure VIP rooms.
ReplyDeleteWe were very grateful. They saved her life and sheltered her from the press.
uh, lofty, like, i'm a VIP dumbass. i am part comanchee indian and part african american (twixt the legs of course). i fully expect VIP treatment in your hospital and if my child gets a boo boo i expect you to call your top plastic surgeon. out.
ReplyDeleteExactly. In the ER, VIP treatment consists mostly of rooming someone ahead of everyone else in the waiting room. I find that most "VIP" requests come from hospital employees and relatives of our own staff! If you come for a finger stick or some on the job injury, I will try to squeeze you in. But if you come down from another floor with a headache, back ache, weird rash etc. and think we're giving you VIP treatment, please think again. To the waiting room! The only time I ever consider getting someone a room out of turn, is if their presence in the waiting room is disruptive whether because of celebrity, gang status, active vomiting/seizing, florid psychosis etc.
ReplyDeleteexcellent post..the other VIP is the person making lots and lots of noise about a possible lawsuit...flowers and fruit baskets galore with direct numbers to the cno and administrator and immediate access to all medical personel at all times. they say jump we say how high?
ReplyDeleteAwww...Lofty, that's a whole new softer side to you. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteUntil anon posted about their mom needing shelter from the press, I thought all VIPs were just self-important whiners.
ReplyDeleteLast time I checked, we all get here the same way and are all guaranteed the same final ending. Good for you for remembering that fact.
ReplyDeletea VIP patient is almost guaranteed to get shittier treatment than joe average. Why? Because the VIP gets 'special' treatment, i.e. he is treated in a non-standard way - a way that bypasses the existing normal checks and balances that provide for patient safety.
ReplyDeleteSo, don't be a douche and think you are special becasue you will get fucked for it.
Great post! :)
ReplyDeleteITA...as a charge nurse, admin learned not to even try to talk to me about "VIP's". I gave them the stare down with the "All my patients are VIP's" speech. Major financial donor or politico my Aunt Fanny...and may I add that MRS. IMPORTANT DOCTOR was the absolute worst. Quote when offered Tylox for post-op pain (day 3).."Sweetie, that's what I take at home for a headache.."
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Well, nice thought.
ReplyDeleteThis will be important to remember once we have Nationalized Healthcare and some people think they are VIPs.
I think Lofty may be iffy.
I had the recent experience of my beloved girlfriend going in for gall bladder removal, followed by endospic removal of stones in the duct. She was in brutal pain. Tough girl, nothing is ever too much.
In post-op, she was assigned a room ahead of a "VIP" that I grew to like very much, and her family and I had sat through the day together. It wasn't fair that my girlfriend got admitted to a room, well before the VIP's scheduled surgery for a back operation. However, the VIP stayed in post-op and she got a room. Over the next few days, we all ran into each other and I would apologize for us having gotten a room, cutting in line. What fine people; they expected the doctors to have made that decision and that was that. They were so backed-up that I suspect the "VIP" had to stay in post-op for close to 24 hours.
In my opinion, that was a real VIP. I talked to her as she came out of anesthesia and was alone (I was allowed in post-op), just to introduce her to her neighbor. I have a suspicion that she put up with the warehouse of post-op and insisted that my girlfriend get moved to a room ahead of her. Just a suspicion.
That's a VIP.
I've met a few 'important' people in my life and I agree- we are all the same, it's just that some can afford more/better window dressing. I especially dislike those who ride on the coat-tails of vip..."I'm so and so's son/daughter/cousin" or whatever. Really? and what have you done with your life?
ReplyDeleteAMEN!!! I have often wondered some of these same things when getting report about a "VIP" patient. I've even asked what, exactly, I was supposed to be doing differently that I don't already do in a normal day of work. I tend to get the blank stare when I ask such crazy questions...
ReplyDeleteI hope your attitude is ridiculously infectious. Etotheipi makes an interesting point -- once out of the loop of normal medical/hospital practice, there's the risk of losing built-in protections to health and safety. A cogent argument against VIP-ness that can be made without being accused of arguing from pure sentiment...
ReplyDeleteI got very appropriate VIP treatment once,for my status. As in I was recognized for being more likely to die than the twisted ankle, invisible finger laceration, and migraine sitting in the waiting room with me.
ReplyDeleteThat and someone (have no idea what their position was, but they were wearing scrubs and looked like Christian Bale) was kind enough to go out to my car in the middle of the night and wake my husband up so he could hear the doc's info.
All the VIP treatment I'd ever want. (They could have let Christian Bale nurse hang out with me some more though, really...)