Communication counts!

When giving instructions to a patient or caregiver communication is important.  The verbal queues and spoken words are often not interpreted as we intend them to be. 

I am reminded of one such instance in a pediatrician’s office. 

A fussy child came to the doctor’s appointment with a fever of 102 and was observed pulling at his ears.  Following a thorough examination the doctor determined that the child had an ear infection (otitis media).  A prescription of an oral antibiotic was given.  The mother was instructed to fill the prescription at the local pharmacy.  She was told that the medication bottle would have a dropper that she could use to give the child the medication.  The mother stated she would stop by the pharmacy on the way home and start the medication as soon as she arrived home.  Luckily she was further advised that if after 24 hours there was no change in her child that she should call the doctor’s office again.  She verbalized understanding and agreed. 

On the morning of the second day following the initial doctor’s office visit, the mother called the doctor and stated that her child was crying, not sleeping and continued to have a high temperature.  She was instructed to bring the child back to the doctor’s office for another examination.  When the mother and child arrived at the office the child was noted to be unchanged from the initial examination except one very important observation—there was drainage in both ears.  The mother was asked how she had given the medicine to her child and stated that she had done just as the doctor had instructed.  She put 3 ml of the medicine in each ear every six hours.