Role Reversal: Trusted Doctor Becomes Trusting Patient

Tomorrow I go in for surgery. My situation leading up to this point has been an eye-opening reversal of roles, as I found myself on the other side of the doctor-patient relationship. Being on the receiving end of diagnosis and medical care has helped me gain a deeper understanding of how it feels to be reliant on a physician’s knowledge and skills and how frustrating the healthcare system can be. I am humbly reminded of the sacred responsibility I have to patients who entrust their care, and the care of their loved ones, to me.

Earlier in June, I had an MRI to confirm I had a torn meniscus in my right knee. But the imaging revealed an altogether different condition — avascular necrosis. Ever heard of it? Neither had I! After the doctor called with the results, I did what I suspect most patients do — I got on the Internet to learn more. There I was, relying on one man’s advice and Google to help me understand and make informed decisions about my condition and treatment.

Avascular necrosis is a disease resulting from a temporary or permanent loss of blood supply to an area of bone. Without blood, the bone tissue dies. In my case, the bone is collapsing onto the knee joint, causing localized pain that led us all to believe I had a torn meniscus. The surgery is to relieve pressure and possibly restore blood flow to the bone by drilling holes in it. I probably won’t ever scale Mt. Everest but that doesn’t matter to me as much as the realization this experience will make me a better doctor.

I have been reminded how it feels as a patient to be kept waiting. I had the pre-op procedures at a large hospital where, for efficiency’s sake, technology has replaced some of the human element in patient care. I was given a beeper like you get when there’s a wait at Ruby Tuesday. It was supposed to alert me when it was my turn to be seen, but it never went off. Over an hour had gone by before I spoke with someone and realized I hadn’t even been entered into the system. Unfortunately, this made me 45 minutes late to my own clinic, where patients were lined up to see me. And, unfortunately, I cannot vow to never again keep patients waiting, as it is sometimes necessary for me to spend a little extra time helping someone understand what’s going on with his or her vision or overall health. Each patient deserves thorough explanations.

Tomorrow my role as patient begins in earnest: I place my full trust in Dr. Michael Langford to conduct the surgery, and afterward, I’ll be immobile and dependent on family for a few days. But on July 5 I’ll be back in the role of caregiver, seeing patients at both the Kilgore and White Oak locations.

Dr. Jeff Pinkerton
I care for you.