A resident reflects on a challenging patient encounter that remains vivid years later. After seeing a patient with anxiety and depression, the resident meets a middle-aged man with a long list of concerns during a brief visit. The resident struggles to manage time constraints, ultimately having to cut the visit short, frustrating the patient who is also a care navigator. This encounter reveals the clash between the desire to provide care and the limitations of the healthcare system, leading to feelings of shame for the resident.
In that moment, I felt torn between my duty to provide the best care possible and the limits of the system I was working within. I wanted to give him the attention he deserved, but I also knew that I was way, way behind schedule.
He was a care navigator, someone who spent his days guiding patients through the healthcare system, ensuring their concerns were heard and addressed. And now, when he finally took some time and prioritized himself, he felt like no one was there to help him.
Frustration crept into his voice. 'What do you mean? I still have six more things.' In that moment, I felt a wave of shame. I wanted to tell him how hard I was trying.
'Doctors get paid for not doing anything,' he said bitterly. Shame hit me like a wave. I wanted to tell him how hard I was trying.
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