Jess__E

The patients I have worked with so far often struggle with insurance/cost. In the ICU, things get expensive quickly (long stays, multiple new medications to purchase, etc.). In these situations I LOVE to rely on social work and case managers. They often follow the patient beyond the ICU and have incredible resources for patients. I have noticed that a lot of patients are hesitant to work with them initially. I've also noticed a general lack of knowledge. Patients bounce back because they don't understand why their medications are so important. Their family members are often in a daze while in the ICU, so it's a hard time to pass along information. This can lead to multiple family members calling each shift, misinformation being passed along, and other issues. It's also hard to nail down an ICU doc long enough to really educate family on the situation and plan of care. Like they said in nursing school, keep everything at a 3rd grade level! ?