Reflection
Today we talked about assumptions and bias. We talked about learning to develop situational awareness and being aware of what might be affecting our perspective. Sometimes it is our personal or professional history or experience. Sometimes it is a deeper bias, one that we may be unaware of. Reflection can help us to better understand perspective for what it is-one way of looking at something. It is not the only way of looking at something and perspective can, and often should, change.
Thoughts from day 1
The first day was emotional and thought-provoking. The video about the family whose young child died was particularly emotional. To a certain extent, I had always accepted that if a loved one were in the hospital I would need to be with them or arrange for someone else to be with them to keep them safe. I had also assumed that if I were with them or someone else was with them, they would be safe.
This family was taking the actions that I have always thought of as the security blanket or insurance- the things that would just make absolutely sure that a loved one was safe while receiving care. They were advocating for their child, asking for help, and had knowledge of the healthcare system and this still happened to them. This story made me think about how much more challenging and risky it is for patients who… Continue reading