Written in January 2023, from the exam room itself.
My fever hit 40°C, that’s 104°F, so I rushed to the hospital.
The chair in the middle of the room
My memory of Korean hospitals is a little fuzzy. But I’m pretty sure there was a chair over here and a bed over there. Two separate things.
Here, there’s a chair that’s basically a bed, plopped right in the middle of the exam room. Is it a chair? Is it a bed? It’s the futon of medicine.
I still haven’t gotten used to American hospital chairs.
Today’s catch: me
I get the system, I think. Depending on how the patient is doing, they can lay you flat or prop you up on the spot.
But psychologically? Not comfortable. Sitting there, I felt like a fish laid out on ice at the grocery store seafood counter. Just waiting for someone to point at me.
So why is it like this?
My theories, both unproven:
- Tradition. It feels like a very old way of doing things, handed down from the days when doctors fixed people pretty bluntly, and the setup was chosen for the doctor’s convenience.
- Space. With so many exam rooms, maybe one bed-chair per room is just the most space-efficient option.
Either way, I hope the day comes soon when exams and treatment in the US feel patient-friendly and comfortable.
This is just my experience as a patient, not medical advice.