Tupeak Hope

There is always hope!

A is for Accessibility

When thinking of the topic of accessibility most people tend to think in terms of physical access in public spaces. While this is definitely a legitimate and very important aspect of accessibility and one with which many people must contend, I would like to broaden the consideration of accessibility. Think, for a moment, of the individual with health insurance, but without dental insurance. The age of this person is irrelevant in the aspect that it could just as easily be your 18-year-old brother, sister, or cousin just as easily as it could be your middle-aged or elderly person, be it a stranger or a family member.

Invisible Disabilities NPR Article


Zebras #AtoZChallenge

Zebras #AtoZChallenge There is nothing more frustrating as a patient than having a provider look at you and summarily discount your symptoms as ‘impossible’. It is very common that we are hesitant, even afraid, of that which we do not understand. It is also true that those trained to diagnose and treat us could and should be held to a higher standard. It is to them we look when our body revolts against us in ways which we do not understand.

An Interesting Perspective on Delirium…

On November 19, 2016 I shared an article on the importance of preventing, recognizing, and appropriately treating the effects of ICU delirium in patients. The article I will reference now pertains to delirium, but not in the typical sense. It addresses the same topic of delirium, but in a different light. In this article the author, who is also a physician, discusses in-depth the potential for delirium in an inpatient setting, which he himself experienced.

The invisible work of a patient…

The following article is a well thought out and articulated approach to the shifting of demands on the practitioner to that of the patient. It also addresses the fact that patients labeled as non-compliant often may simply be overwhelmed. The stigma attached to the concept of noncompliance often infers that the patient is willingly making a conscious choice to be noncompliant. Where in reality, the patient may simply not have the knowledge, expertise, or resources to manage what has been thrust upon them.