On November 19, 2016 I shared an article on the importance of preventing, recognizing, and appropriately treating the effects of ICU delirium in patients. The article I will reference now pertains to delirium, but not in the typical sense. It addresses the same topic of delirium, but in a different light. In this article the author, who is also a physician, discusses in-depth the potential for delirium in an inpatient setting, which he himself experienced.
Delirium can manifest in a variety of ways and severities, and this author does a phenomenal job of explaining just how easily it can happen, to any of us. It can happen regardless of the severity of the issue which put us in the hospital in the first place.
I particularly like the fact that the topic of training caregivers through real life experience is addressed in such a practical way. Back when I was still working EMS, we routinely challenged students and new EMT’s and paramedics to experience many of the same treatments we would provide to patients. These exercises often included being secured to the stretcher and going for a ride on a rather curvy and bumpy road within our jurisdiction. While seemingly an innocent and simple experience, it often resulted in them sharing a newfound understanding for what the patients we encounter must go through. Even on the smallest scale, this is an improvement over understanding gleamed only from a textbook.
See the original article by physician Robert Pearl, M.D., originally published on Forbes by following this link: “It’s A Wonder People Survive More Than Three Nights In A Hospital”. It is well worth the time to read!
Share your thoughts below, and let us know if you have experience with this phenomenon.
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