How Dr Brown has made patient care her priority for over a decade
Today’s spotlight is on Dr Nsikan Uyobong Brown, a doctor on Heala.
Tell us a bit about yourself, what you do, and the kind of care you focus on.
I am Dr Nsikan Uyobong Brown. I’m a medical doctor. I’ve practised for 13 years now. I work at Nisa Premier Hospital, Jabi, Abuja, under the Paediatrics Department. I’ve worked in different hospitals. I have primaries in Ophthalmology, which is where I want to specialise, but right now, I’m just practising general medicine. I have a fair knowledge of the majority of areas in medicine, so that’s what I’m doing right now.
What were those early years like: medical school, hospital rotations, first patients?
Well, back then in school, I was the kind of person that was all about my books and my studies. I didn’t want to fail exams, so I wasn’t really involved in any extracurricular activity. I was somebody that was just about books, my academics, and everything.
Life after school was actually different. One of my mother’s friends owned a private hospital. She advised me that instead of just staying at home before getting a placement for housemanship, I could learn at her hospital. And it was very good, because while some of my mates were seeing patients for the first time as house officers, I already had at least a fair grasp of most of the things I was expected to do as a doctor. She didn’t pay me much, and people really discouraged me. They were like, “This woman is using you.” I didn’t see it that way, because I had a lot to gain before starting my housemanship.
At what point did you recognise that care could live beyond hospital walls? What made you start thinking differently about how care could be delivered?
My husband was the first person that told me about Heala. I think he just randomly mentioned that there was this app where we could see patients, so he was the one who introduced me to Heala. He had seen some patients and everything.
Heala is a very good platform. You know, we’ve come to a situation where the standard of living is biting hard. Many people cannot afford healthcare. This platform is able to help people so they can have access to healthcare. At least, it’s affordable. I am sure it was based on this that Heala was created, trying to give healthcare to people who cannot access the hospital. A lot of people have been abandoned, they don’t even want to go to the hospital again. But with Heala, people can have access to healthcare in the comfort of their homes. So that’s so good.
What stood out to you about Heala and what made you want to be part of it?
The fact that it’s affordable, so many patients are able to afford healthcare with Heala. There are actually many patients who are sick, and some of them don’t have relatives that are doctors. They don’t have access to healthcare. So instead of going to the pharmacist and getting drugs, receiving wrong prescriptions, or even developing complications, I think it’s actually better for them to seek healthcare here on Heala. It will help cut down on the number of people taking herbal concoctions or just using anything that is not healthy.
Can you walk us through how you guide a patient through a consultation?
When I accept a consultation, I greet first. Afterwards, the patient then tells me how they are feeling.
Another thing is that I try to be detailed. Because this is an online platform, as a doctor, I try to get as much information as possible to be sure that whatever I am giving to the patient is safe. Some of them come and all they want is drugs, but I always want to be sure what exactly the problem is so that I’ll be able to give the right prescription. A question as simple as asking a patient if he or she has any drug allergies can save lives.
How do you help someone talk through what they’re feeling, especially when they’re not sure how to explain it?
So what I do is to change to audio, because at times, some of these patients may not be able to express themselves through chat. But if you are able to listen to the patient, you may understand better than through the chat. Also, if needed, I ask that they run tests.
Are there certain things you find yourself saying to patients all the time?
I find myself repeating to patients that instead of coming to give me a diagnosis, they should just tell me what the complaint is. You know, it’s actually difficult to tell them that they don’t have this diagnosis, because in their head, all they want is drugs. They’re like, “Doctor, just give me drugs.” So that’s been the challenge.
Can you tell us about a moment with a patient that reminded you why you do this?
Oh! On several occasions. You know, even at work, there are instances where I find out that maybe there’s an error or something I know will cause harm to a patient, and I go out of my way to do something to help. I should actually send someone to do it, but I go out of my way to make sure that it is done, because I feel that if I send somebody, the person may not really know how important it is. There are so many instances. Once I take a blood sample, especially if it’s an emergency, instead of going through the normal protocol of giving the sample to the nurse assistant to take to the lab, I pursue it myself. I am always after getting the work done.
What’s something being a doctor demands from you that people don’t always see?
Time! As a doctor, you find out that you don’t even have time for yourself. You don’t even have time for what others are doing. You cannot relate. You try to explain to people that you don’t have time to go to church, because there are times that I am on call on Saturday, and I am finishing on Sunday morning and I still have to rest. I’ve just told myself that I don’t need to explain to anybody. Because even when you tell them that you are busy, you cannot make it, they tend not to understand. But I’ve come to tell myself that as far as I know that what I’m doing is right, I’m saving lives.
What helps you handle the pressure when the work gets intense?
I think I’ll say family, because at times it can get so bad. I have people around me that care. Once, I was at work when I was told that the school bus that picks my kids from school is bad. You know, it can be very distressing. I’m at work very far away. My husband, too, is at work very far away. I was able to make a call across, and someone was able to go and pick them up from school. I’m surrounded by people that care. There’s always one form of assistance or the other, so that has really helped me to stay focused and calm at work.
Has practicing medicine changed the way you understand people?
Yes. So, you find out that it’s not easy to be a patient. At times, when you see patients react, maybe out of frustration, you’ll be able to understand how they’re feeling because they are spending money and they expect the best of care. So instead of reacting, I’ll just find a way to say I’m sorry.
Is there a part of yourself you’ve had to grow or strengthen because of the kind of care you provide?
I think it is the part of managing stress and not having to transfer your emotions. As a doctor, you must not put your emotions in the work, because that will not really help in terms of your judgement.
What do you see as the next chapter for you in healthcare?
The next step for me is to become a specialist in ophthalmology. I’ve come to see that you cannot just be a doctor. It is best to be a specialist in whatever area of medicine you want to stand. I also want to have my own hospital alongside my husband, so that’s what I’m looking out for.