Lesson from my trip to the ER yesterday.

As I saw family members, spouses and others be turned away I noticed something very subtle. How people were screened. The person doing the screening would state “Sorry-but Visitors aren’t allowed” 1/2

Note that no one asked if they are a caregiver or the patient’s advocate. That would no doubt give some pause to think about what there role was. Given a chance many would not identify as a “visitor”. With a subtle use of language - caregivers are sidelined.

I saw this happen to a few elderly couples. It’s likely they have no idea how to navigate the HC system. An example of how the HC system marginalizes patients. This is just one example - but it happens all the time. The error of omission - results in harm - every single day