Motivation

NEED AN ANCHOR?

     “And Rocky goes down………” The question is whether he can take a beating and get back up again. We’ve seen the movie, so you know what HE does. Here’s YOUR question: Can YOU get up again? I know you. You’ve worked hard to advance what you believe (what you KNOW) it the best care for your patients, but you seem to be struggling in vain. Why do you continue trying to convince others that this is the right thing to do on so many levels? Why beat your head against a wall when you are working yourself to death? Why do this when (instead of a “Thanks for all of your effort”) you get nothing but ‘push back’ and even evil stares from others that are not so interested in “doing all of that extra work”? What would possess you to add the burden of CHANGE to the people that work around you?

     What is going to make you want to get back up and ultimately find victory? First, let me say that if any of the previous paragraph resonated with you (or hit a nerve….Ha, Ha, Ha), believe me when I say that I know where you are, and I can truly sympathize with your situation. Second, let me help to fuel you on to a worthy cause while the rest of the country catches up to your vision. [nonmember]…

 

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   In the not too distant past (in order to help protect the identity of the involved parties), I had (ANOTHER) experience or two that ANCHORED my desire and interest in expanding the utilization of continuous peripheral nerve blocks in my hospital and around the country (and the globe if that is not TOO fantastic). Three patients that I recently encouneterd helped refuel my efforts to make others recognize the impact and importance of how post-operative pain is managed.

     Three issues are revealed in these scenarios. They are safety, outcomes and patient satisfaction (and financial impact if you happen to be a CFO of a hospital!!!). I was consulted for acute pain management or an elderly woman still in the ICU who had a thoracotomy four days prior. She was in worsening respiratory distress from inadequate pulmonary toilet due to her inadequate post-operative analgesia. The duties of the O.R. kept me from arriving to do a continuous paravertebral nerve block for a few more hours, and an urgent reintubation was impending. An hour later, she was eating dinner, spontaneously coughing and talking about her dry throat. Contrast this to the patient with the same circumstance (AND a PVB pre-operatively) two days previously who was resting comfortably and easily able to cough and deep breathe without a pep rally or a battle with the ICU nurse.

     I never met the final patient. I was having a discussion with another anesthesiologist who is a chronic pain specialist about the link between acute and chronic pain. He received a call on his cell phone for a consult. The patient’s story was unfortunately a typical one, one that he hears commonly. She had a bad radius fracture and experienced inadequate post-operative analgesia. She had persistent pain and now was beginning to exhibit signs of RSD. We looked at each other, both knowing that this could have been prevented.

     Would you like something to remind you of the enormous responsibility, privilege and opportunity to impact the experiences and lives of your patients? Do you need a reminder of why your efforts are worthwhile…even when they are not appreciated and even ‘unwelcomed’ by others? Would you like to transform your work from something that is monotonous, demanding or uninspiring into something that is filled with real satisfaction and enjoyment? I hate that you may be experiencing a battle, but, Mr. (or Mrs.) Balboa, your patients are depending on you, so pick yourself up, keep doing the right thing and keep fighting. Maybe by the last bell, others will will recognize the importance of what you are doing.

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