Showing that you care
Having been a bystander in several hospitals in multiple states over almost a decade, I can confirm that it is one of the most unpleasant experiences one can go through. But they have given me a unique perspective now that I work on the other side as a doctor. Even in most posh hospitals, unless you're capable of coughing up the extra cash for a room, you'll probably be sleeping on a chair or even the floor with mosquitos for company. But that's not the worst part. The worst part is the waiting, the wondering and the fear of not knowing what's going to happen, especially if a loved one is undergoing a difficult surgery or is in the ICU. Everything else just adds to the anxiety and helplessness of the situation. All of these factors result in you being on edge all the time. And the way the healthcare team interacts with you can make a huge difference in how you interpret the standard of care. When my father suffered a stroke, it was one of the scariest few days