1. Please share your most interesting case with a patient?
It may not be the most interesting case but I feel it is timely given our current global pandemic. A few months ago I was involved in the care of a patient who presented with a significant tumor growing on her face. When she presented to hospital, it was the size of a large orange and quite malodorous, spreading from her jaw to her eyelid over her cheek, and causing her eyelid not to close.
This mass had become infected, and she was admitted to the hospitalist service for management. When I asked how long she had this mass, she stated it had been many months. Apparently she had been referred to a dermatologist when the lesion was just the size of a quarter about a year prior to her admission, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and delays in being seen, plus her own fears about leaving her home to seek further medical attention, the lesion had grown significantly over many months. She was eventually transitioned to palliative care while in hospital, and passed shortly after. It reminded me that while the media reports deaths caused by COVID-19 on a daily basis, there is a large amount of morbidity associated but not directly attributed to this pandemic that is not captured in those numbers.
2. What is the best advice you were given during your time in medical school that has had a lasting impact on your practice?
I received lots of great advice from various preceptors, but probably the most impactful was from my time with Dr. Ken Burns who was my preceptor for my “rural” family medicine rotation in my 3rd year of medical school. Ken instilled his mantra of communication as the most important skill to focus on, and that of time as our most precious commodity. I always try to practice respectful communication with patients, families, colleagues, and staff, and ensure I respect others that give their time to meet with and work with me on various projects. And yes, for those of you wondering, Maple Ridge was classified as a rural placement back when I was in medical school! That 3rd year clerkship rotation is probably one of the main reasons I continue to practice in this community today. Without exposure to this community, I wouldn’t have been able to experience this incredible medical community!
3. What are you currently working on that is helping to impact our local medical community and/or local patients?
My administrative role as Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) with Fraser Health has given me the opportunity to lead work in designing our new Electronic Medical Record, Meditech Expanse. It will drastically change the way we practice for the better – allowing all electronic provider and nursing documentation, closed loop medication management, and computerized provider order entry. It will make us more efficient, giving us a portable all electronic chart that will make it easier for providers to do the right thing for patients, and at the same time, cut down on medication errors. I look forward to sharing more about this work at the next RMH Grand Rounds session on February 9.
4. What is some advice or wisdom you would like to share with your medical staff peers, or any new physicians joining our community?
I would encourage all members of our medical staff community to get involved and join a committee, whether it be through our Division of Family Practice, the Medical Staff Association Physician Engagement Society, or even as a local department head! While it may seem intimidating at first, I can assure you that as a front line physician your voice is vital to the work being done to shape the way we deliver care in our communities and hospitals.