Today was mostly educational. I went to a lot of lectures that were a review of things I learned in medical school but have never really been able to apply in residency. The lecture I found most interesting covered how the counselors tell the patients about their disease. As a physician, it is so difficult to counsel patients without all the medical lingo. The most impressive part was that the counseling starts at age 5! I was so amazed by this that I thought I would share it with you guys- don't feel obligated to read it- but it is pretty interesting!
So the teaching goes as follows:
Your immune system is like soldier- its job is to protect your body. When your soldiers are present they protect you from the bad guys (illness). Sometimes certain bad guys (HIV) overwelm your soldiers and make you more vulnerable to other bad guys. However, taking your medicine will put the bad guy to sleep. .. so he is still there but can't cause trouble when he is sleeping. If a patient forgets to take their medicine the bad guy wakes up and starts causing all kinds of trouble.
She also made a few other points- like how with education the kids will remind their parents to give them their meds because they don't want to bad guy to wake up. Or how the parents must make sure and put the meds out of reach so the kids don't take a bunch at one time in an attempt to wipe out the bad guy! It was very interesting and I felt very impressed by the counselors ability to relate to the children.
The picture diagrams that the counselor uses while teaching this are at the following website. Just ignore the first few pages with questions and skip to the first picture.
http://bayloraids.org/adherence/files/adherence-supplementary.pdf
On another note. . . .
We had a baby shower today for two of the doctors. They did some singing and a whole lot of laughing! The weather was just perfect too. I hope I take home some of the positively these people exhibit everyday. Oh- and apparently marshmellows are big here. . . they are basically served at every event!
Marshmellows....who knew?
ReplyDeleteSounds like you'll be able to use the teaching about the immune system for just about any kid with an immunosuppressed or compromised immune system-- I might steal the ideas too!
ReplyDeleteHow's the weather been? Are you staying warm enough? Do you have hot water?
Madelyn blows you a big kiss! We love you.
Sarah
Marshmellows? Sounds like my kind of place! Thanks for the teaching of day! I feel like we are all experiencing this with you! I miss ya!
ReplyDeletemmmmm... marshmallows! hc and i could survive there - good to know :)
ReplyDeleteso interesting, melissa. keep it up!