During my abroad trip, I learned about healthcare from many different perspectives. I realized that when it comes my education as a future physical therapist, there are vital lessons I can learn from everyone, including those who do not have a background in healthcare. Overall, there were multiple occasions in which the importance of empathy as a healthcare worker was emphasized. In my future endeavors, I plan to keep these interactions in mind so I can remember to treat patients from a holistic approach.
During one of our classes, we received a lecture from an English graduate student at the University of Maribor. She showed us clips from a movie which depicts the experience of an elderly married couple as the wife develops Dementia. First, she starts to forget simple things, such as where to put pots and pans; as time goes on, her memory loss becomes more significant. Her husband made the decision to put her in a care facility where her condition continues to worsen. Eventually, she forgets about her husband. Throughout the film, I was able to see and feel the emotions portrayed by the characters. I began to understand what they were going through. There are many stories in literature which are revolved around health issues such as a family member or spouse fighting a disease. The perspectives of staff and students from the English department showed me that literature is an important tool for learning about health. It provides the human and emotional aspects of a disease or condition that a textbook will not. Textbooks and PowerPoints are usually straight facts, but learning about a disease by reading or watching the experience shows the viewer what the patient and their loved ones may be feeling. This is necessary because it can remind healthcare workers that they are treating a person and not simply a problem. Often, empathy can get lost in the medicine.
Another time when I realized the importance of empathy was when we visited a shelter which offers free health services to those in need. After touring the facility, the manager gave us a presentation and explained healthcare from a unique perspective. While medical facilities should be a safe space for all, many of the shelter’s patients have had numerous negative encounters with clinicians. They were judged harshly or dismissed carelessly based on their appearance or lifestyle choices. This has made many of them hesitant to seek out healthcare services.
Many of our lectures and excursions were eye-opening. I am grateful I was able to learn about healthcare from different perspectives. I realized I have so much to learn, even from people who are not in the field of health. As a future physical therapist, it is important that I understand a patient’s full experience and that I am not blinded by the science. Listening to and observing others is a powerful learning tool.
