The Patient’s Perspective: Things I Wish Wound Care Doctors Would Consider When They See a Patient

A patient sent me this message so I decided to post it. It speaks for itself.

–Caroline

I have many chronic medical conditions that contribute to recurrent wounds. I have chronic heart issues and am wheelchair-bound due to a muscle disease—among other challenges. I have been going to wound centers off and on for many years. I do heal, but months later, I get a new wound. I think I am now an expert at being a wound center patient. I’ve been at this a long time, and I know a great doctor and a great staff when I see one. I also dread having to train new wound care doctors and wound care nurses.
Here’s the basic list of what I wish they all knew:

Things I Wish Wound Care Doctors and Nurses Would Consider When They See a Patient

    1.    Please touch me—do not look at my wound from across the room.
    2.    Please listen to me—my story will tell you a lot about why I have this problem
    3.    Please don’t rush—there are important things I need to tell you and it took a long time for me to get here.
    4.    We are all different—I need a treatment plan that is tailored to my needs and the needs of my wounds.
    5.    Please, partner with me to find the best treatment plan: If a patient has had a wound before, they probably know what works and does not work for them so ask me what has and has not worked before. As a patient, I will listen to whatever you recommend, but I also know what didn’t work last time.

It seems like the things that matter to a patient would be just “Good Patient Care 101,” but apparently, they aren’t.

Caroline E. Fife is Chief Medical Officer at Intellicure Inc., The Woodlands, TX; executive director of the U.S. Wound Registry; medical director of St. Luke’s Wound Clinic, The Woodlands; and co-chair of the Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders. Click here for Dr. Fife’s original blog.

Click here to download a PDF of this article.