Every day at Caroline Family Practice (CFP) , I come across patients who haven’t seen a doctor in years. Long gaps in annual checkups or preventive care often lead to unattended illnesses. These can lead to undesired situations for patients and their families. Recently I came across an individual who hadn’t seen a doctor in years. Every time I think about that person, I wonder if the outcome would have been different if that person had received quality healthcare earlier. That person is always in my mind and I hope the best for that person.
This person hadn’t seen a doctor in 20 years due to lack of insurance and lack of access to healthcare. Had it not been for the cough in the blood, I doubt that individual would have taken serious note of the situation. Unfortunately, I knew right away that it is serious and required attention. Several tests confirmed my fear that the person was suffering from cancer. I was worried that apart from cancer there could be other illnesses that had to be addressed. I ordered several tests and I was not surprised to find higher cholesterol but also hypertension. My heart went out to that person and his family. I choked up and wondered how I could help. Our team scrambled to develop a management plan. The family came up to me and said “You are a life savior and our God”. I know I’m not a God and but I know that I need all the resources as a doctor to help this individual. This is when I realized that I was at the right place. I am so lucky that I have all the resources, a great team and support structure to manage this patient.
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