S2W6: Build Me Up Buttercup!

Last week I mentioned that I was going to take a warm-up for the diabetes classes with some class mates this week. Our clients were put through their paces with a little dance routine to the song 'Build me up buttercup" by The Foundations. Admittedly, the routine was a little bit difficult in terms of tempo and short regular changes to the next movements! I found it to be a bit difficult remembering the steps myself, even with two others calling out the moves as we went! It was a good laugh, and I hope the males in the group enjoyed this feminine warm-up... social norms shouldn't be left uncritically challenged - even if you do feel a bit embarrassed waving your arms around to a cheesy song! I led the cool down - that's something you can do with two left feet! The supervisor said it was the [quote] "best warm-up by a second year group that I have seen".

We've learned objective assessment strategies for joints below the lumbar vertebrae, finishing with the clinical biomechanics and assessment of the foot. Future MSK labs will involve case studies and applying our subjective and objective assessment skills to diagnose disorders and to clinically reason treatments for common musculoskeletal conditions.

The quirk of the week was a lighting problem in the Barnet lecture theatre for neuro. The lights would systematically turn off over a 30 second period. The lecturer had to continually increase the brightness or turn the lights on again between demonstrating physical assessments. The lab ended half an hour early due to the lighting inconvenience even though most of the class could have contributed to adequate lighting with their mobile phone flash-lights! If only we had brought candles!

"Hello Mrs Atrial Fibrillation, how is your husband Mr Diabetes-hypertension today?" Obviously this is not how we address patients. Unfortunately their condition often sticks more readily in our minds than their name. Here is this week's tip for surviving a community physio placement: how to remember patient names. Get to know them on a personal level. Trust me, it's not that easy but here is how it can be done:

1. Introduce yourself. "Hi I'm Phil. What is your name?" - they will usually reply telling you their name. DON'T write it down in front of the patient unless it's a formal conversation! If you didn't catch it you can ask again immediately after otherwise wait for the end. If you don't think you can pronounce it, either ask them now or wait until the end of your conversation!
2. Small talk. Start with the weather, if they're enjoying the clinic, where they're from and you can tell them where you're from too. Use their name in conversations and repeat it over and over in your mind.
3. Actively wait for a 'tell'. Just like in poker when a player unknowingly makes a gesture that suggests a poor hand of cards. Only, for the patient this is likely to be some detail that you didn't specifically ask for (or were expecting them to tell you). I liken it to a 'tell' because a few patients don't readily give away information about their personal lives (e.g. that they have a grandchild).
4. Find out as much as is appropriate from that 'tell' and look for another 'tell'. The more you find out, the easier you will remember them as a person and not a condition.
5. Thank them for the nice conversation and write their first name down (when you're out of their sight). Bear in mind not to write anything else as not to breach confidentiality if your piece of paper gets lost! If you cannot remember their name, ask them again at the end.