8 - Black Voices in Healthcare: Touch
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Why is human touch so fundamental in healthcare?
You're listening to The Nocturnist, Black Voices in Healthcare. I'm Ashley McMullen. So much has changed in the course of this pandemic. Systems that were once considered inflexible were suddenly transformed in a matter of days. And as we remain socially distant, technology has in some cases brought us closer to those who once seem so far away. This moment offers new perspectives and hope for better days to come, but also a new appreciation for things we once took for granted, especially human touch. Now my friends will tell you I am not the most touchy-feely person. But I am feeling this absence. I miss those good hugs from friends and family. And more than anything, I miss that connection with my patients.
For many of us in healthcare, our hands are the tools that we use to understand what's going on, to receive new life on the L and D awards, or feel the pulse of someone who's slipping away. To cut, puncture, sew, and mend, to give reassurance, comfort, and build trust. Human touch is fundamental to the work that we do in medicine. And these are your stories. Here's episode eight. Touch.
I started working at a VA hospital in nineteen ninety eight. I was seeing patients there, and Having Great success. In connecting with our veterans. They're awesome as a patient population and just great people in general. For all the services and sacrifices that they made in their lives. I felt it was quite an honor to take care of them. On one particular day. I was taking care of a brand new patient to me, and he was a black male And we went through the process of talking about his history. In gathering the history and reviewing his chart. And at the end of which I said to him Hop up on the table so I can get a look at you, take your shirt off. So I can examine ya. I turned my back to the patient to continue some charting and
The patient didn't move. And so I said, sir. Would you mind taking your shirt off and hopping up on the table so that I can examine you? And so Seemingly reluctantly he got up out of the chair and took off his shirt and disrobed and Sat on a table. And I proceeded to examine him. And as I was coming to the end of my examination of him, I noticed a tear was welling up in his eyes. Said Sir. Have I done something wrong to you? Is it my breath? And he shook his head and smiled and laughed and said, No, no, no, Docus you're fine, you're fine, you're fine. And so I finished the exam. And he dressed and sat back down in the regular chair beside me. And as we started talking about what we were going to do for a plan.
He stopped me and he said I need to tell you something. He said. I've been coming to this hospital for Over fifteen years. I've seen many providers in this hospital. And I want you to know. That you're the first doctor. Who has ever touched me? Said most of the time the doctors come in. They sit down, they start either writing on paper or start writing on a computer and they casually look over to me, I mean, while they're asking me questions and Ask her a few questions, get answered. They they say, Okay, I'ma write this prescription and they give it to me and I walk out the room. So you mean I asked. They never touched you, they never did an exam on you. He said. That's what I'm trying to tell ya. You're the first doctor.
That has ever touched me. So I don't typically wear gloves unless I am examining a skin rash or doing more sensitive exams or you know, it's a MERSA case or VRE or where you need that extra additional protection.
How did a VA doctor’s first encounter with a Black patient reveal the power of touch?
But I don't typically in my clinic, in my hospital practice, wear gloves because I want to touch you. I want you to know that I see you in your humanity. And my hand on yours is an affirmation of it. In COVID though it's been very challenging and different because all of a sudden It feels like we ought to be wearing gloves with all of our patients. We can't touch them in more of the casual ways like handshake or my patients like hugs and so they would hug me and none of that is allowed anymore, so we s sort of stare at each other in this awkwardness. And then I usually
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
Why is human touch so fundamental in healthcare?
0:01–4:16
2
How did a VA doctor’s first encounter with a Black patient reveal the power of touch?
4:16–17:39
3
What challenges do clinicians face when gloves replace personal touch during COVID‑19?
17:39–26:24
4
How can listening and holding a patient’s hand change their experience of surgery?
26:24–31:41