Day: July 15, 2013

an observation in an email from my friend bob made me realize there is probably a lot about undergoing medical treatment here in korea that is quite different from what similar treatment in the US would involve, that i have either failed to explain or have elided over.

bob was mentioning when i undergo speech therapy (for the tongue) or occupational therapy (for the right arm). i think it unlikely i will experience anything like these US concepts. the doctor tells me things to do – move your tongue like so or move your fingers like so and asks if ive been doing them later, and thats the extent of it.

patients are expected to be much more autonomous and self-providing, because the patient includes the family caregivers. patients without caregivers end up hiring them – a bit like hiring a home hospice worker to come help you in the hospital. every bed has a cot next it, and those cots are almost always occupied by caregivers – family, friends or paid workers NOT on the hospital staff. the cot by my bed is occupied by andrew, now – and was occupied by peter my first night out of icu.

an example of “caregiving”: the hospital doesnt provide for patient hygiene. caregivers handle bedpans, spongebaths, emptying and maintaining various external subtance receptacles, etc. if the hospital has to step in its begrudgingly and at extra charge.

because of these caregivers, my hospital room has 5 beds but arguably 10 or 11 inhabitants. its crowded and like a campout.

patients are quite autonomous. for example, i am only escorted to “clinics” in the event their location is new to me. otherwise a nurse will say “go see dr ryu” and im expected to go to the elevator, get to the second floor, and find my way across the building to where his work area is.

andrew attached the flowerpot gifted to me by my friend seungbae to the top of my iv stand. i was a bit sceptical – i imagine a nurse oh dont do that. but the head nurses reaction was only 예쁘구나 [oh pretty – not sure i spelled the korean right].