White Coat Honey: Recent Episodes
Jessica Vlasak
So many things can make us vinegar, and still, we encourage honey.
A seasoned office nurse hosts informative guests and presents spirited, solo pods, inspiring vibrant and honest thought and discussion. Her goal, to give the general public the inside scoop, and also, to vent a little bit.
Sharing frontline experiences health care workers are sure to find relatable, she talks serious and not so serious stuff while not taking herself too seriously. With the professional filter taking a back seat, it’s time to bring on that white coat honey.
First solo episode!
Jessica goes out of her comfort zone to record her first solo episode and share important information about a recurring content theme: Practitioner-Patient relationship is a shared responsibility.
Encouraging listeners to have an open mind always, Jessica highlights the fact that patients have an important role to play in their care and how impactful it can be on their overall experience. And how appreciate practitioners and office staff are for patient support.
She shares specific examples of how patients can take accountability, such as asking questions about timelines and reaching out to other healthcare resources/professionals with particular questions.
Happy listening :)
Jessica talks to long time friend and physiotherapist, Connor.
Connor has been a physiotherapist since 2011 and is the proud cofounder of Pulse Physio and Performance in Peterborough Ontario. Connor talks the path to becoming a physiotherapist, what physios do and where you can find them in the health care system.
Here are some bullet points to catch while listening:
-Physios are primary health providers. You don’t need a referral.
-There is some criteria based, OHIP coverage for patients.
-Family physicians are generally trained in everything, physios are specifically trained in MSK system.
-Physios work in a variety of settings, not just private clinics.
-You don’t need imaging to see physio.
-Imaging is important when it might change the course of care. Not always necessary simply for diagnosis.
-Giving people the knowledge and tools to manage on their own is important.
-Gauging expectations is important to build a therapeutic alliance.
And, the insta account Connor mentioned in the beginning of the episode, support for new or future physiotherapists is cdnphysiostudent.
Jessica chats with Katelyn, an experienced chiropractor and long time friend. Jessica learns oh so much about chiro's role in the healthcare system.
Some of said learning in bullet points:
-You don’t need a referral from doctor.
-Chiropractors are privatized, primary care providers.
-Low back pain: bread and butter.
-Nerve, muscle, joint = see a chiropractor.
-Different Chiro’s might practice slightly differently.
-It’s important to speak up if you don’t agree with or feel comfortable with the treatment plan.
-If you see a chiro first and they determine it’s not MSK related, it is really helpful clinical information for family practitioners.
Chiropractors can be an important piece to the treatment puzzle for patients and, therefore, support the healt chare system. Win-win!
First episode back!
Jessica kicks off a new round of episodes with her very own, beloved husband, Felix.
Jessica takes Felix through the history of healthcare, back to ancient times, all the way up to the family practice we know today.
Did you know doctors have been saying the Hippocratic Oath for centuries?
Did you know that barbers used to be surgeons?
Did you know that family doctors were almost phased out?
Enjoy a shallow dive into the history of family practice.
Jess and Inge talk to Dragana, the clinical pharmacist that works at the office. What is a clinical pharmacist, you ask? They wondered that too. Now, they wonder how they ever practiced without her.
In this episode they discuss:
-How and why pharmacists are medication experts.
-How patients and practitioners can utilize pharmacists. For example, did you know you can book an appt with your community pharmacist? Did you know that you can ask pharmacists about OTC medications, vitamins and supplements?
-How pharmacists support family practitioners and their role as part of the team. Pharmacists can advocate for patients and support messaging from practitioners, whatever the situation requires.
Pharmacists aren’t just the people behind the counter handing you a labelled bottle of pills. Get to know your pharmacist just like you would your doctor. They want to help you. Big thanks to Dragana for all of the info!
There was no avoiding it. Especially since Inge has been working in a vaccine clinic and Jess is preparing to! The ladies share experiences that have prompted them to inform, as well as, important information so that people can prepare for their vaccine. For example, make sure to wear a short sleeve shirt to your vaccine appt. So simple, but makes the process more seamless.
-A short history of vaccines. How far we have come! -The process a vaccine goes through to become a vaccine. -The different COVID vaccines available. -Where to get information about vaccines to make an informed decision. -What to expect when you attend your vaccine appt. -Some silly, spicy stories Inge has encountered so far.
This one is for the nurses, by the nurses. Yassss nurses.
In part 2, Jess and Surby discuss important topics within the theme of progression of the nursing profession, or lack thereof. Surby gets heated as she outlines the observations she has made over her 45 year career that hold nursing back from being the respected and valued profession it is.
Some of the topics addressed include:
-Understanding the roles of NP, RN and RPN and where they fit or should fit within the healthcare system.
-Why it is important to acknowledge and respect nurses as specialists in their fields of work.
-The CNO, RNAO and ONA: What they do/don’t do for nurses.
“Take nursing back” is a repeated mantra leaving Jess feeling inspired to figure out a way to create change in her beloved profession, in her own little nursing bubble, and on a much larger scale.
Jess talks to Surby, a Nurse Practitioner who recently started working at the office. She has been a nurse since 1976! It started with a simple request, “take us through your nursing history.” Half an hour later, the account of an incredible nurse has been shared with several tangents of exciting stories and intriguing insights. From seriously isolated northern nursing to proposal writing for community health centres to pandemic planning, Surby is a nurse of many talents with an inspirational drive for progressive healthcare and a refreshing view of HCPs as comrades. Thank you Surby!
Jess and Inge explore the role of medical admin in the healthcare system. They share their experiences with the role and go through a day-in-the-life of “Maddie,” their gal. If you thought it was as simple as answering the phones, you would be very, very wrong. Phones, people, scheduling, filing, referrals, the first and last person people interact with, our gate keeper, our go-to, she is everything. Healthcare ships would sink without medical admin. Show them some honey.
Jess and her friend/guest, Jen, dig deeper into Jens experiences as a nurse in the emergency department. Jen shares thoughts on what might be helpful for people to know to optimize their experience in the ED. She reflects on the challenges and rewards of her job and why she is taking a break to transition into primary care as a nurse practitioner. Eye opening and honest, Jen nails it.
-Emergency department is for emergencies: if you’re waiting it’s because you are safe to wait.
-The triage nurses know their stuff, trust them.
-Be truthful. And respectful. And kind. Please.
-ED staff save lives. Literally.
-The staff want to help.
-Be kind.
Just Jess this episode, with her good friend Jen who has been an emergency department nurse for almost 12 years. Jen shares insider info on what happens behind the triage desk, step by step, colour coated, organized chaos and everything. Jess learns about why wait times happen and why the staff run a tight ship. Jen was nervous, but i’m sure the wine helped
-First thing’s first: triage!
-The Triage and Acuity scale: What’s your number?
-Colour organized sections: Where you going?
-Yes, there is usually a wait. It’s the worst.
-The staff got your back. Trust them.
-Keep your cool.
This is a big one! Jess and Inge talk all about validation. What it is, how to do it, why it is so powerful. Clearly, Jess is obsessed.
–Validation: Recognizing that a persons feelings are valid.
–Simple and powerful.
-Use it when: a person is upset/angry/sad, a person shares bad news, a person shares a struggle, a person needs support.
-Things you can say: that sounds so hard, that must feel awful, that sucks, I can see why you would feel that way.
-A person sharing their experience or feelings is not an invitation for advice.
-Using generic, uplifting phrases is not validating.
-Validating someones feelings is not supporting their behaviours or agreeing with their actions.
-Set aside shame, blame and judgement.
-Validation is a skill so just practice and keep it simple.
Things change, people change. What are Jess and Inge up to now?
Jess just returned to work at the office after a year long mat leave and Inge just returned from a five week nursing outpost in Fort Nelson, BC.
They have a lot to catch up on and stories to share.
Jess and Inge vent the deets about the numerous reasons docs can fall behind. “I don’t mind waiting, got nothing but time” – said no one ever. With Inge in BC on a travel placement, the gals, once again, use technology as best they can to validate and shed some light on this age old question.
-Note: the staff at the office also strongly dislike when the doc is behind schedule, please be kind to them.
-Usually, once one appointment goes over time, it’s a downward spiral of lateness and it’s really hard to catch up.
-Appointments can go over time for many reasons; you never know what’s going on in that room. Be respectful.
-HCPs are human too, things come up, lateness ensues.
-HCPs do more than just see patients at the office. They get pulled away for a million and one reasons. As per Inge, “a couple minutes, a couple times is like ten minutes,” and bam, they’re behind.
Honey-Do list:
-Do ask questions about how long appointments are scheduled for and if the doc is behind.
-Do prepare for a wait – bring a book
-Do follow the office protocol and book your appointment accordingly.
-Do be respectful of the allotted time you have with the doctor.
-Do be kind to the bearers of bad news when there are no more appointments available for the day.
-Be honey!
Jess and Inge take on a serious topic that is super important to them. If you weren’t sure what informed decision making was, you’re about to find out. With the goal of empowering the people, they discuss the who, what, where, when and hows of making personal, medical decisions.
-Where we get information. There’s a lot out there. Like, A LOT.
-How to know if the information is accurate and reliable and not just Joe Schmo’s opinion.
-A deep dive into google: how to assess your sites.
-Be aware of a little thing called bias.
-Decisions are personal, it’s yours to make.
-Remember that pandemic we are in? How are you making decisions about it?
Honey-do list:
-Do gather all the information you can. Specifically risks, benefits and alternatives.
-Do make sure the information is from accurate, reliable, evidence based sources.
-Do use your health care professional as a resource.
-Do remember that medical decisions are personal and you have to do what’s best for you.
Learn a little more about these hosts!
Jess and Inge decide to do an episode where they introduce themselves a little more. They talk about their nursing history and journey, why they became nurses, and the rewards and challenges of nursing. It’s like a virtual therapy session for them. Feels good.
Jess and Inge take on a physically distanced, interview style podcast as Inge shares the real and emotional experiences that have come with adapting the office to function during a pandemic.
-Inge talks about the first few intense, stressful days of figuring things out at the office during a global pandemic.
-How the office has changed and care has adapted.
-Using technology to provide care. For example – pitting edema video
-What visits are still happening and what has been postponed.
-What Inge and her housemate have been doing while physical distancing -They are so creative
Honey-do List:
-Do continue to practice physical distancing when possible and follow consistent sources for reliable information.
-Do contact your trusted health care professionals if you have questions about care of if you need care.
-Do continue to access the Emergency department if you require urgent or emergent assistance or care.
Stay safe everyone!
Jess and Inge discuss how people can prepare for their appointments to make it the best appointment ever.
Be sure to tune into the end of the pod to hear what the girls dished before getting to the ‘regular scheduled program.’ Inge shares a funny story from the ‘new office,’ as they transition to their new surroundings.
-Know how your office books appts and follow procedure as much as possible.
-Think about how much time you might need with the doc, and remember, 15 minutes, baby.
-Think about what the doctor might ask you related to your visit.
-Pain, for example: How long, makes it worse, makes it better, describe, etc.
-Have you tried anything to help? What can YOU do? If you havent tried anything yet, maybe the nurse/ a friend/ a credible googled site can offer a suggestion.
-Develop a realistic goal for your appointment.
Honey do list
-Follow the rules
-Ask what’s up if you have a special request
-Anticipate what the doc will ask/need to know – time efficient
-Utilize the other staff if you can
-Be realistic
Jess and Inge talk about how scheduling works at the office. They break down and detail “the shpeal” they give to people about how appointments are booked.
Tune in to the end of the podcast to hear what Inge said when she didn’t know Jess was recording.
-Just keep calling. Yes, it’s annoying.
-Office hours, 9-5 baby.
-Same-day appointments: Keepin it fair. Pros and cons.
-Mini triage- why do you need to see the doc and why do we want to know?
-Pre-booked appointments and who gets em.
Honey-do list:
-Do wait until a later hour to call with questions or about results.
-Do be prepared for a mini phone triage.
-Do have an open mind and heart – the staff does want to help you.
-Do politely and respectfully explain your situation to the staff to see if there is anything they can do.