I decided to carry out an interview with 2 doctors, a cardiologist and anesthetist. Unfortunately, due to public hospital privacy policies, I am not able to record their video and audio. But here are their responses to the interview questions.
I decided to carry out an interview with 2 doctors, a cardiologist and anesthetist. Unfortunately, due to public hospital privacy policies, I am not able to record their video and audio. But here are their responses to the interview questions.
Cardiologist: My patients are usually above 50 years old. Once in a while we do see 18 - 30 year old patients.
Anesthetist: Most of my patients are above 15 years old. Occasionally, we do get young children.
Cardiologist: It depends on the patient's condition. Usual follow-up would be in a few months time. If the patient requests to meet earlier or later than the recommended follow-up date, we have to adjust the amount medication provided accordingly.
Anesthetist: I usually meet my patients only once in a specific area called the Pre-Operative Holding Area. In this area, I would review the patient along with his or her medical history. However, there are cases whereby a patient would have to receive multiple surgeries over a period of time and I would meet them more than once.
Cardiologist: For example, if the patient wishes to shift their appointment a week later, there might not be enough medication to keep the patient's heart condition stable. The condition may worsen over time and complications may arise, making it even more difficult for the doctors to diagnose. Scans and medical equipment were scheduled for the patients use, we would have to postpone the use of these medical devices and reschedule our plans for the patient, to a date when the equipment are available again. Even if the patient wishes to come at an earlier date, it might be too early for the patient to proceed with the scans. If the patient reschedules to a later date, there could be more side effects going on without the patient realizing it. Additionally, due to COVID19 over-crowding restrains, rescheduling can become more of a hassle. If a patient is also admitted to a different hospital, the plans for the patient would also have to change. In that case, prior notice about the patient's admissions is important. In conclusion, it is best if patients stick to their appointment time slots.
Anesthetist: It is standard procedure to check the patients fitness before letting them go for surgery. If the patient reschedules, the physical condition of the patient may be different. The patient may be sick with another illness and might have to wait for another 6 months. Other vital organs might get affected, for example the heart or the kidneys. This may cause more complications in during surgery. There are a limited number of doctors available and therefore, patients with more serious illnesses are prioritized, especially in the A&E. Let's say a patient has appendicitis and has to go for a surgery and postponed the surgery date. On the day of surgery, that patient might have to wait for other patients with more serious conditions to go in the operation room first. The long wait may cause the patient's appendicitis condition to worsen. The patient has to be rushed into surgery, given very little time for anesthetic preparations. This makes the operation very risky for the patient. Therefore, it is always best to come during the scheduled timing.