My first–and hopefully, only–experience as a hospital patient occurred several years ago when I needed a minor surgical procedure performed. Although I would not want to repeat this experience, it was interesting to observe the delivery of medical care from the patient’s standpoint. It was pleasant to receive the attention and respect of the medical staff following my case. I also felt pampered by the ancillary services who did the cooking and cleaning. Regardless of how tempting it may have been to just move in, I was much more eager to leave.

The hospital can be a fairly inhospitable place. The most drug-resistant pathogens wander the halls. Noisy neighbors and their noisier visitors inevitably occupy every other room. Let us not forget the infiltrated IV lines that trigger endless alarms or the monotonous beeps of the telemetry monitors. There are the mass-production renal-cardiac-diabetic diets and bareback paper-thin cloths called “gowns”. As for the hospital odors that permeate throughout the premises? Unique. Then, there is the constant interruption by the army of medicine: phlebotomists, patient care assistants, nurses, nursing students, social workers, medical students, residents, fellows, and attending physicians.

Please don’t get me wrong. The goal of this post is not to lambaste the hospital system. As a cog in the American health care machine, I am endlessly devoted to the promotion and improvement of hospitals. I just continue to be amazed how some truly ill patients can endure their pain, discomfort, and the often unfriendly environment, yet exhibit enormous patience when I awaken them at some odd hour before dawn to do my pre-rounds. My hat goes off to them.

Note: I realize the image shows a building of the University of Michigan Health System. I have no affiliation with the institution and did not target them in this post. Any similarities between this post and a patient’s experience there may be more reflective of hospitals in general and not of the University of Michigan. I have no intention to denigrate any institution or anyone.