Who is Who?
Who is who in the hospital?
Willow is pictured with her doctors in Minnesota who are all dressed up for super hero day. This photo form left to right includes…
Left to right: Resident, Intern, Attending, Fellow, Dietician, resident
This can be so confusing on your first hospital stay through the next handful. To be honest, the way I learned who was important and who was at the bottom of the food chain was through Grey’s Anatomy, but don’t tell anyone!(;
On set of Grey’s anatomy for my Make- A- Wish. I learned so much about how a hospital works thanks to them.
There are a number of factors that go into needing to know this information. From knowing who has the power to change your care plan, to who must press on your abdomen, listen to your heart, and lungs. Knowing the answers to these questions gives you the upperhand. It helps you become a valuable member of your care team. That is why I felt it was important enough to write about. Understanding your role as well as the people around you is how you will be successful at getting better so don’t be afraid to ask or stand up for yourself.
First things first, are you at a teaching hospital?
My Mom and I walking into Amplatz Children’s hospital at University of Minnesota for labs. We were here because of pain I was having that was becoming unberable.
If so, you are going to have double the amount of people coming in to check on you. You will have double the amount of people asking you your life story. Double the amount of people pressing on your belly and listening to your heart. This can be incredibly difficult when you are in outrageous pain and pressing on your belly hurts… AND YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LET THEM... wait what? That’s right, you do NOT HAVE to let them do an exam on you. This only really applies to anyone under a fellow. You may tell them where the pain is worse and usually they dont push where they don’t have to especially if it hurts. The best thing I ever learned was when I was in the worst flares I had been in and I was told that you do not need to allow every doctor fellow and under to do an exam.
If you are not at a teaching hospital you will most likely deal with way less people. The people you do deal with will most likely be the same doctor etc.
At a teaching hospital you can tell who is who by what they are wearing. Now, unlike Grey’s anatomy they don’t have color coded scrubs. they do have different size and length’s of white coats. The hierarchy goes like this…
Attendings: The ones in charge. There have been times when a resident or fellow has come in and felt that a new plan was necessary and it has made no sense. These are the doctors who make the final call on everything. They have studied and made it to the top. They are in charge of your treatment. They are the ones who are wearing the longest white coats. they also do wear scrubs but more often than any other doctor you will see them in gorgeous dress clothing underneath their coat.
Fellows: These are your students who have made the decision to specialize. These are usually people who found a passion in either; the GI system, the neuro, cardio and so on. They have a white coat on that is shorter than the attendings but still long enough to go past hips. They are usually hard workers because of how much work they are trying to complete.
Residents: These are your students who are having more study time. Residency is a four year learning program where you rotate through all the specialties. It is important that even if you know you are specializing in the GI system we still need each doctor able to diagnose basic health problems such as brain bleed, heart attacks, and a gallbladder problem.
Interns: These are your students who are fresh out of school. They are just beginning their training. If you are having a bad pain day you do not have to let them poke and prod you. However, if you are up for it let them learn. I was usually okay with IV’s and that was something they don’t get to practice a lot so I would let them actually get some real practice in. there were days, were I would say no but those were few and far between. These are your doctors with the shortest white coats. The coat hits right at the hips like a normal blazer.
Now, when you are at a non teaching hospital you still have new doctors who haven’t experienced hospital life much. Try to be kind while also standing up for yourself when necessary. Just because they are doctors does not mean that they have a right to treat you as less than or just a number.
