Dr. Joe’s Notes – April 2023 | Remembering How They Made You Feel

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

-Maya Angelou from “What I’ve Learned”

It was a cold and rainy February night in Seattle. I was precepting health science student volunteers as part of a mobile outreach project serving adults experiencing homelessness.

An older woman approached the van moving slowly while grasping onto her walker weighed down with multiple plastic grocery bags full of her belongings. She told one of the students that she wanted to speak with the doctor about a sore on her ankle. I looked at her face thinking that it looked familiar but couldn’t place it exactly. She politely asked to be helped up onto the van out of the rain to be examined with some semblance of privacy.

After helping her onto the exam table, I asked her permission to look at her wound. As I gently removed the slippers she was wearing lined with baby diapers to keep her feet dry, I saw what was obviously a diabetic ulcer on her ankle. I took my time asking her questions not only about the ulcer, but also about her experience with the doctors and hospitals she had encountered in seeking treatment.

It was not surprising to hear a story of fragmented care, ER visits with long waits, and encounters with healthcare providers unaware of the challenges to maintain her health given her living conditions. I gently cleaned and dressed the wound, giving her extra supplies to do her own wound care, while I listened patiently.

There was no EMR, no high-tech treatments, no pressure for time, just a compassionate encounter between patient and doctor.

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Joe Sherman, MD is a pediatrician, professional development coach, and consultant to individuals and healthcare organizations in the areas of cross-cultural medicine, leadership, and provider well-being. His mission is to help health professionals rediscover the joy of practicing medicine. Reach him at joe@joeshermanmd.com