Week 2 MultiDisciplinary Clinical Experience

This week was thought-provoking.

I went to clinic last Friday, thinking it would be like normal, seeing children who are being treated for hydrocephelaus. But instead, I walked into a multi-disciplinary clinic. I walked into the office to find a pediatric podiatrist, a neurosurgeon, a physical therapist, and an orthopedic surgeon, all waiting to see a one patient. About seven people walked into the patients room with the experts leading the way, asking questions, examining the patient. You could tell it was overwhelming for the families but they were also grateful to have so many eyes focused on their needs. They wouldn't need to be directed towards another specialist for another appointment two months later--the best of the best was already in the room. At first it was difficult to ask questions. They're so busy...and so experienced. But I got over that in enough time and their smile and earnestness won me over.

The multi-disciplinary clinic was also inspirational because of the patients. All of them had issues with spasticity and muscle tone, derived from some neurological disorder such as autism or cerebral palsy. My father was born with cerebral palsy in the 1950s, a time when it was recommended to let babies like him die. My Dad was a quadriplegic as a child and eventually gained the use of his upper body. He is still unable to walk and has the same spasticity issues as the patients I saw in clinic. I had empirically known about this disease all my life and there I was sitting in a room of experts, it was overwhelming. And they cared. Dr Leon Root specializes in cerebral palsy was two inches away from me discussing how treatments and societal norms have changed with these disorders over the last 50 year. After the doctors were done discussing the treatments, one mother invited them to see a play that she wrote. They brainstormed ways to get her a wheelchair for her son. They scolded a wheelchair bound young boy who wouldn't listen to his mother, who needed to learn how to take care of himself in his newly found state.

After the clinic was over, I saw other patients. I couldn't help but notice with some the end decision was "we need to talk to a neurologist" or "let's see what the ear, nose, and throat doctor says first." I like the idea of a multidisciplinary clinic because I think it maximizes the patients time and the doctors as well. It might also enhance the quality of the diagnosis. it certainly made the patients feel more valuable. I really felt like every patient left more motivated, more optimistic.