A new, must-read survey reveals details about nurses’ difficult experiences with physicians in working to get appropriate health care for people with IDD they support. The study published in EC Nursing and Healthcare in February of 2021 can be an emotionally difficult read.
“Learning about current attitudes and perceptions about people with IDD that many physicians have is heartbreaking.,” Says Dr. Craig Escudé, a physician and president of IntellectAbility. “It’s commonly known by family members, nurses, direct support professionals and people with disabilities that finding a clinician who understands the unique needs of people with disabilities is challenging. The harrowing experiences of the nurses related in this survey explains why.”
Some of the quotes in the study provided by these nurses include:
“During a consultation with an ER physician, the doctor stated that people like my patient aren’t meant to live that long and have no quality of life.”
“Physician uncomfortable with treating individuals with IDD. Appeared either scared or annoyed.”
“They don’t listen to the nurse or direct support provider that knows the client.”
“I’ve had a number of physicians, instead of treating our individuals, recommend hospice because of a ‘poor quality of life.’”
“I had a doctor totally ignore what I was saying and started the individual on psych meds.”
These comments further emphasize the need to improve how medical schools educate their students about the fundamentals of providing healthcare for people with disabilities.
“When we educate clinicians, we save lives,” says Dr. Escudé. “The efforts being made to improve IDD healthcare education, while overdue, will undoubtably have a tremendously positive impact on the lives of millions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the US.”
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