A few days before Christmas, Lise Meunier received good news: after being hospitalized for a month at the Pierre-Le Gardeur hospital in Terrebonne, the patient was discharged. But before, his doctor, internist Hoang Duong, sent him this warning: “It is absolutely necessary to avoid being around people with flu or COVID symptoms during the Holidays. Even if they love you very much. »
“Don’t worry. I’m going to have a quiet Christmas with my children. I’ll be careful,” the patient replied.
Lise Meunier arrived at the hospital in very poor condition on November 19. His diabetes was out of control. “I was in a coma,” she says. After a few days in intensive care, she was able to move to a hospital floor. Specialist in internal medicine, Dr.r Hoang Duong helped her get better. He readjusted his medication. The day of the passage of The Presson December 19, the one who is also president of the Association of specialists in internal medicine of Quebec announced to Mr.me Miller that she could celebrate Christmas at home. But her cancer surgery, scheduled for December 23, was to be postponed until January. “We must regain strength before,” explained the Dr Duong, after examining his patient.
An unknown specialty
In all hospitals in Quebec, internal medicine specialists watch over patients with complex and multiple diseases. “We are a bit like pediatricians, but for adults”, sums up the DD Alyson Baker, who works at the Hôtel-Dieu in Arthabaska.
Internists do not perform operations, deliver babies or perform psychiatry. But they are specialized in the treatment of all diseases that affect the internal organs, summarizes the DD Baker.
Internal medicine specialists adapt their practice depending on the hospital where they work. In the regions, they are the ones who watch over patients in intensive care, notes the DD Baker. In metropolitan areas, they mainly do hospitalization. “We often take on the most complicated patients. Like those coming out of intensive care. We are complementary to the other specialists, ”summarizes the Dr Duong.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
The Dr Hoang Duong and his patient Fawzi Aiache
At the Pierre-Le Gardeur hospital, the Dr Duong was to make a round with about twenty patients on December 19. Of which Mme Miller. After donning protective gear against COVID-19, he also went to Fawzi Aiache’s bedside. The man contracted the virus in December, which completely destabilized his diabetes. He had to be hospitalized for a week. “You have one or two more tests to do, and if the results are good, you can be discharged,” explained the Dr Duong to Mr. Aiache, visibly delighted.
Working at Pierre-Le Gardeur Hospital since 1998, Dr.r Duong treats many cases of diabetes, arthritis and kidney disease in his practice. But not only.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
The Dr Hoang Duong
We often intervene in patients who have several diseases. The advantage is that we are able to process several things at the same time. It saves time.
The Dr Hoang Duong
Nicole Gervais is a good example of the “typical patient” in internal medicine. Every morning, the lady must take 17 different drugs to treat her multiple pathologies. “It’s almost a breakfast!” “says M.me Gervais laughing.
The ex-flight attendant was hospitalized in intensive care for a few days at the Pierre-Le Gardeur hospital before being able to reach the floors. On December 19, she was much better. The Dr Duong has cleaned up his medication. “I made a lot of adjustments. I think it will help lessen your heart aches,” he explained. The doctor was about to discharge Mrs.me Gervais, who said she was “totally satisfied with her care”. “But you will come back for a follow-up with me in January,” warned the Dr Duong.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
The Dr Hoang Duong and his patient Nicole Gervais
The latter explains that as they age, many patients see their list of medications constantly increase. “Often our job is to clean up all of this. Because there are drug interactions that sometimes have significant side effects on patients,” he says.
Tough weeks ahead
Like several colleagues in Quebec hospitals, Dr.r Duong and his team have been very busy over the fall with all the viruses that have hit the population. Like every year, he expects there will be a slight lull in hospitals around Christmas, before seeing an explosion in traffic after New Year’s Day.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
” […] If people can do their part and avoid seeing people if they have symptoms, that will be a really nice gesture for healthcare workers,” says Dr.r Duong.
“Yes, we are tired. We cannot ask the staff to work more. We understand the population to be fed up with viruses and to want to move on. But if people can do their part and avoid seeing people if they have symptoms, that will be a really nice gesture for healthcare workers,” he says.
“Anything we can do to prevent the spread will help. If you have symptoms, don’t go see grandpa and grandma, “adds the DD Baker.