Hospice volunteering will, without a doubt, help shape me into the physician I wish to become one day. I have now experienced both sides of healthcare: the medical aspect which aims to treat a patient for their disease, and the comfort aspect which aims to provide happiness towards the end of one’s life.
I will never forget the first time I met my first hospice patient. My patient suffered from dementia, and therefore did not remember my name or who I was the following visits. However, this did not inhibit our ability to form a bond. Each time I visited her, she taught me new lessons by explaining to me to work harder every day and that ‘when there’s a will, there’s a way’. We would also attempt crossword puzzles every visit. Eventually, this turned into a competition of who could complete the puzzle the fastest—she always won. To my amazement, when I walked into her apartment on my fifth visit, she remembered who I was. Not only did this fill my heart with happiness and excitement, but also depicted the strength of the bond we formed. Once we felt comfortable with each other, she began to explain her life. This, in turn, resulted in me talking about my life, which she loved to hear about. She adored the topic of romance and love, as she asked me if I had a girlfriend week after week. I think she hoped one day I would come visit and tell her I found one. Ultimately, the experiences I shared with my patient have provided me with a new outlook on medical care.
In addition, this program has outlined the essential lessons and aspects of the life of physician. The first fears and anxieties that doctors experience include handling cases where a problem cannot be solved, knowing when there is no cure for a patient, facing unfixable problems, and understanding the concept of patient sacrifice and priorities. In the case of healthcare, the two unfixable aspects of life are aging and dying; these cannot be avoided and rather should be embraced. Moreover, doctors are constantly in an unforgiving fight with death and avoid it at all costs because they feel it is their job to give it their best shot to aid a patient. When death arrives, they are subject to second guessing themselves as they ponder if there was something else that could have been done. Ultimately, this program has taught me that there are many characteristics that make a good physician. First, it is crucial to be able to work with a team, be respectful, and have a proper bed-side manner. Second, a good physician must be a great listener, empathetic towards their patients, and personable. Lastly, a good physician must be intelligent, compassionate, and confident.
Over the course of my hospice experience, I have re-defined my outlook on death. I have learned that life is fragile and should not be taken for granted and the diseases that come into play towards the end of one’s life are all a part of God’s plan. Ultimately, I have come to realize that death should not be feared, but rather should be a celebration of the end of one’s life and the beginning of a new life in heaven, because death is not the enemy. The only enemy related to death is the fear that it brings out in us.