My relationship with “Gary” was very casual. We would watch Saturday college football, and while I didn’t know much about football, I let “Gary” talk about the game and his favorite team, Penn State, because I could tell how much he liked talking about it. His family rarely watched football, so I like to think I could give that opportunity for him to talk about the game he loves. But a lot of times, we would just watch the football games in silence, just observing the plays. In fact, I’ve learned a lot about football because of “Gary,” so you can call me an expert. From the interactions with “Gary,” I learned that family is often the most important aspect of a person’s support system. His family didn’t visit him often because they lived quite far away, but they would visit for special days, and he always enjoyed the times they did visit. As a college student who rarely sees his family, I resonated with this because I realized that the small amount of time spent with family should be remembered and cherished. From a patient care perspective, I’ve learned that I should take my time with a patient and be patient while they get acclimated to talking to me. This is especially true for people at the end of life, who are frequently tired and can feel overwhelmed meeting a new person. Having patience with them and being compassionate is the most important thing. However, this can be applied to all kinds of patient care settings because I will treat patients who are very scared or anxious about their illness, and it’s my responsibility to support them with patience and compassion.
My experience within hospice care has changed the way I approach patient care and medicine overall. Before starting this program, I more or less viewed patients as problems that need to be fixed. Like just another problem on an exam. There was a solution, and it’s my job as the doctor to find that solution. But by participating in this program, I realized that not every medical problem has a definitive cure, and sometimes the most meaningful care is compassion and presence. It’s about viewing your patient as a real person with a family, feelings, and memories. I came to this realization because there was one instance where “Gary” was really tired, and I offered to leave so that he could get some rest. However, he said that he wanted me to stay, which initially confused me. But I think he just wanted me to be there with him so that he could have some company while watching TV even if we weren’t actually talking. That presence is what makes hospice so meaningful for me because it’s such a small thing that can make someone’s day a whole lot better. And in the end, that’s the goal of hospice.
If I were to describe my hospice experience in a medical school application, I would explain how it has impacted my view on medicine. The hospice program showed me the less technical, but the personal side of medicine. By completing this program, I can empathize with my patients and show compassion for them and their family members, especially if the prognosis eventually leads to death. Communication and good listening skills help patients in any setting because it shows that you, as a provider, care about them. What I’ve learned is that patients at the end of life sometimes don’t want the best possible treatment because it can be stressful, expensive, or uncomfortable. Sometimes, patients simply want to live a peaceful and comfortable life that is filled with joy, compassion, and love because those are what make living worth it. Preserving those moments is an integral pillar of hospice care.