![A Letter from a Patient [Health & Wellness]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviPgVbiSUKbI79QA8VgPe7qyJc7MqSHcxZxuoeEKOKPD_jlen71NTNB9mAs3iOkw0D9fG240lZhmKCqSkZgrDGY0RV7YYVixOQWbBtV6G9MkcD3eBEbkv1kdyUwuHW5h0WwDUtdLAFJ9aEay-JoqJyAfPx1Mq5ZlXBStFyIDWC6FZ3SqnbOw5LHb2YA/s16000/A%20Letter%20from%20a%20Patient.png)
Reading Exercise: A Letter from a Patient
a. nightmare
Answer: iii. a very unpleasant or frightening experience
b. pediatric
Answer: iv. Relating to the medical care of children
c. intravenous
Answer: v. into or connected to a vein
d. priority
Answer: ii. a thing that is regarded as more important
e. medications
Answer: i. treatment
f. confidante
Answer: someone to whom secrets or private matters are confided, often a close friend or advisor
a. The sender of the letter was happy with the service of the health workers.
Answer: False
b. The staff of different departments in the hospital had harmonious relationships with each other.
Answer: False
c. The hospital staff were concerned with the requirements of the sick child.
Answer: False
d. The staff of the hospital shared their personal feelings with the writer.
Answer: False
e. The chart was unclear about the patient's gender.
Answer: True
f. The author took the mistakes of the health workers normally.
Answer: False
g. The writer seems to be more sincere in her duty than the hospital staff.
Answer: True
a. What was the nightmare for the author?
The nightmare for the author was her nine-week-old baby developing an extremely high fever and needing to be hospitalized.
b. What do you think the primary purpose of this letter is?
The main purpose of this letter is to express the author's frustration and disappointment with the hospital staff's lack of empathy and professionalism.
c. According to the author, what was the main weakness of the hospital staff?
According to the author, the main weakness of the hospital staff was their lack of empathy towards patients and their families.
d. Did the nurses really say 'Your daughter is not a priority'? Why did the author think so?
No, the nurses did not actually say "Your daughter is not a priority." The author interpreted their statement of "I am so busy today" as an implication that her daughter's care was not a priority. The author felt this way because she believed the nurses were using their busyness as an excuse for not providing timely care for her daughter.
e. What do the patients and their families expect from the health workers?
The patients and their families expect the health workers to prioritize their care and work towards restoring their health.
f. List the questions that the author was asked frequently in the hospital?
The author was frequently asked the following questions in the hospital:
- Was her daughter premature?
- Was your delivery normal?
g. Why did the health workers make a gender error about the author's daughter?
The health workers made a gender error about the author's daughter because her daughter spent her time in the hospital wearing only a diaper.
h. According to the author, how do people perceive the career of health workers?
According to the author, people perceive the career of health workers as a noble and respected profession, but their behaviour towards patients and their families can greatly impact their perception.
If I became a health worker, the following would be my priority:
- Providing compassionate care to patients and their families, making sure they feel heard, respected, and valued.
- Communicating clearly and effectively with patients and their families, avoiding medical jargon and explaining diagnoses and treatments in understandable language.
- Paying close attention to detail, including accurately recording information and avoiding mistakes such as misgendering patients.
- Collaborating and maintaining good relationships with colleagues from different departments, working together to provide the best possible care for patients.
- Constantly striving to improve and learn, keeping up-to-date with the latest medical research and techniques, and being open to feedback and suggestions.
Glossary
| Word | Pronunciation | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| parent’s | /peərənts/ | noun | a person who brings up a child or children |
| nightmare | /naɪtmeə/ | noun | a very frightening dream |
| rushed | /rʌʃt/ | verb | to move or travel very quickly |
| admitted | /ədˈmɪtɪd/ | verb | to allow someone to enter a place, especially a hospital |
| pediatric | /piːdiˈætrɪk/ | adjective | relating to the care of children |
| outcomes | /aʊtˈkʌmz/ | noun | the results of something that has happened |
| trend | /trend/ | noun | a general direction in which something is developing or changing |
| shaped | /ʃeɪpt/ | verb | to give a particular form or shape to something |
| colleagues | /kəˈliːɡz/ | noun | a person who works in the same job as someone else |
| complained | /kəˈpleind/ | verb | to express dissatisfaction with something |
| orders | /ɔːdərz/ | noun | a command or instruction |
| delay | /diˈleɪ/ | noun | a period of time during which something is not happening or is happening later than expected |
| response | /rɪˈspɒns/ | noun | a reaction to something that has happened |
| inability | /ɪnəbɪˈlɪti/ | noun | the fact of not being able to do something |
| intravenous | /ɪnˈtrəveɪnəs/ | adjective | relating to or denoting a method of injecting a substance into a vein |
| pediatrician | /piːdiˈætrɪʃən/ | noun | a doctor who specializes in the care of children |
| approach | /əˈprəʊʧ/ | noun | a way of dealing with something |
| care | /keə/ | noun | the provision of what is necessary for the health, safety, and well-being of someone |
| sick | /sɪk/ | adjective | not well |
| oblivious | /əbˈlɪvɪəs/ | adjective | unaware or unconscious of something |
| needs | /niːdz/ | noun | something that is necessary for someone or something to live or function properly |
| skills | /skɪlz/ | noun | the ability to do something well, especially to do something that requires knowledge, practice, or ability |
| disappointed | /dɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/ | adjective | feeling sad or unhappy because something did not happen as you expected or hoped |
| egos | /iːɡoʊz/ | noun | a person's sense of self-importance |
| priority | /praɪˈɒrɪti/ | noun | the importance of something compared to other things |
| excuse | /ɪksˈskjuːz/ | verb | to say that something is not your fault or responsibility |
| vitals | /vaɪtəlz/ | noun | the most important signs of a person's health, such as their temperature, pulse, and blood pressure |
| version | /vɜːʃən/ | noun | a particular form of something, especially a written work |
| sounded | /saʊndɪd/ | verb | to produce a particular sound |
| busy | /bɪzi/ | adjective | having a lot of work to do |
| demand | /dɪˈmɑːnd/ | noun | a strong need or desire for something |
| economy | /ɪˈkɒnəmi/ | noun | the system of production, consumption, and exchange of goods and services in a particular country or region |
| confidante | /kənˈfɪdənt/ | noun | a person with whom one shares private matters |
| infant | /ɪnfənt/ | noun | a baby |
| condition | /kənˈdɪʃən/ | noun | the state of something, especially with regard to its appearance or quality |
Grammar I: Reported Speech
a. "Please, help me fix this machine."
Answer: She requested I help her fix the machine.
b. "Please, don't switch on the fan?"
Answer: The electrician requested me not to switch on the fan.
c. "Help me with my homework, please."
Answer: My friend requested me to help his homework.
d. "Lend me some money, please,"
Answer: She requested to lend her some money.
e. "Do your homework!"
Answer: The teacher told me to do my homework.
f. "Don't smoke!"
Answer: The doctor advised him not to smoke.
g. "Don't make a mess!"
Answer: My mother told me not to make a mess.
Writing I: Letter or Email writing
Sample Email Answer
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Apology for your unpleasant experience during your hospital stay
Dear Sarah,
I am writing this email to apologize for the experience that you and your daughter had during your stay at our hospital. We are deeply sorry for the shortcomings in the services we provided during your time here.
We understand that as healthcare workers, our primary responsibility is to provide the best possible care to our patients. However, we fell short of your expectations and for that, we are truly sorry.
We acknowledge the fact that we made mistakes and we take full responsibility for them. Please rest assured that we are taking immediate steps to rectify our shortcomings and to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.
As a hospital staff member, I can assure you that we are committed to providing the highest level of care to our patients. We understand the trust that you have placed in us and we are determined to live up to your expectations.
Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience or discomfort that you and your daughter experienced during your stay at our hospital. We hope that you will give us another opportunity to serve you and demonstrate our commitment to excellence in health care.
Sincerely,
Ramji Acharya