Doctor for special patients

Special doctors and medical professionals

"When did you get sick? - Doctor, since 1996," "Do you still hear whispering voices? - No, they're gone now"... These questions from Specialist Doctor Nguyen Ky Quang - Head of the Male Ward, Khanh Hoa Psychiatric Hospital, were answered clearly and distinctly by Mr. HXV (51 years old, Nam Ninh Hoa commune). Normally, looking at him, it would be difficult for anyone to know that Mr. V. is a schizophrenic patient who has been receiving treatment at the hospital for many years.

Medical staff instruct patients on how to play chess.

Having received treatment at the Khanh Hoa Psychiatric Hospital since its early days, Mr. V. has become very familiar with the doctors and nurses there due to his frequent visits. Initially, Mr. V. often experienced hallucinations, imagining he heard voices coming from his arm, and exhibiting unusual behavior, following the commands from his imagination. Thanks to his adherence to treatment, his condition has improved significantly, but he still needs medication and regular hospital visits. "This is one of our special patients. Mr. V. has been ill since he was young and has been receiving treatment for many years. After his parents passed away, his siblings are now taking care of him. Fortunately, his condition has improved, so his family is somewhat relieved," shared Dr. Nguyen Ky Quang.

The doctor assigns patient care tasks to the staff and nurses.

Taking us on a tour from the Outpatient Department to the Men's Department, the Service Department, etc., Dr. Quang explained that, besides outpatients mostly with mild illnesses, there are also many inpatients. Some have been receiving treatment for 10 or 20 years. Each patient here has a different story. Some suffer from schizophrenia, often experiencing delusions of being harmed or poisoned; they hear hallucinations and voices in their ears, and in the most dangerous cases, these voices incite them to harm others or themselves. Some suffer from depression, and others have bipolar disorder...

In the multi-purpose playground, laughter and conversation mingled with music... Patients were allowed here to move around, relax, and exercise. Pointing to a male patient sitting in the playground, Dr. Quang said that patient THC (43 years old, Hoa Thang ward) also had a special situation. Mr. C. had been receiving treatment at the hospital since its early days. Previously, his father came to care for him, but since his father passed away, the responsibility of caring for him fell to his siblings. Suffering from schizophrenia, during episodes of agitation, Mr. C. would smash things, sometimes even... those around him.

At the Men's Ward, we were surprised to meet Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, a young female doctor born in 1997 who had only been working at the hospital for 7 months but was very enthusiastic about her work and wanted to commit to it. After graduating and working for 3 years at a military hospital in Dong Nai province, Dr. Anh researched and applied to work at Khanh Hoa Psychiatric Hospital. In an environment with more unique characteristics than a typical general hospital, the female doctor did not feel intimidated but still loved what she was doing. "I realize that I have a passion for caring for the health of the patients here. We doctors not only care for the mental health of each patient, but also have to understand the psychology of the family and the patient's family circumstances to provide appropriate treatment. Every time a patient shows improvement compared to before, even just a little, we are very happy," Dr. Anh confided.

It takes "nerves of steel".

In our conversations with the doctors and nurses here, we heard many heartbreaking and humorous stories from those who are working tirelessly every day to care for and treat patients. Among them, the most common are beatings and assaults that don't come out of nowhere, but from the patients themselves. Being hit while examining patients, during consultations, or while dispensing medication is commonplace for doctors, nurses, and security guards here. "Initially, it's very stressful for those unfamiliar with the job, but once you start, you learn how to prevent and overcome it," shared Dr. Quang. Having been with the hospital since its inception, Dr. Quang has experienced almost all the joys, sorrows, loves, and hates of the profession. For younger doctors, working in this unique environment is also not easy.

Doctor Nguyen Ky Quang examines patient HXV.

Having worked at the Occupational Therapy Department of Khanh Hoa Psychiatric Hospital for nearly 15 years, Bachelor of Science Nguyen Quang Minh Hien vividly remembers an incident where, while guiding patients in activities on the multi-purpose court, a patient had a seizure, pulling out a metal rod used to secure the badminton net and attacking everyone on the court. To prevent other patients from being harmed, Ms. Hien had to do everything she could to distract the patient, allowing the doctors and nurses to get the other patients out. Fortunately, Ms. Hien was not injured. “When I saw that everyone was safe, I breathed a sigh of relief. After that incident, we received more thorough training from the doctors on how to recognize patients showing signs of seizures so we could observe them and take preventative measures when organizing group activities. Especially, we must always remember to always walk behind the patient to observe them, never in front, because we wouldn't be able to react in time if the patient attacked from behind,” Ms. Hien recounted.

Nguyen Trong Vu, a graduate from the Occupational Therapy Department, vividly remembers the times he accompanied the hospital's medical team to the community. At those times, the entire team shamelessly persuaded the families of those with mental illnesses to bring them to the hospital for treatment. He recounted: "Seeing patients locked up or chained at home being brought to the hospital by their families, we felt our work was very meaningful. Some patients who previously only knew how to scream or shout have learned to communicate and interact after treatment. Some, after their condition stabilized, even stopped by the department to say goodbye before going home. The progress of our patients motivates us to overcome difficulties and become more committed to our profession."

A special support mechanism is needed.

Currently, Khanh Hoa Psychiatric Hospital has 124 staff members, including 15 doctors. On average, the hospital examines and treats approximately 150-170 inpatients and 50-70 outpatients daily. While this staffing is sufficient for the hospital's operation, there is still a shortage of 5 doctors.

According to Dr. Nguyen Anh Chuong, Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Psychiatric Hospital, due to its unique characteristics, medical staff working at the hospital face significant work pressure and a large number of patients; doctors frequently encounter dangerous and stressful situations and sometimes have no time to rest. Mentally ill patients may exhibit unpredictable and unstable behavior, even attempting to escape or endanger themselves and others. This requires medical staff to possess high professional skills, patience, and the ability to respond flexibly in emergency situations. Many mental patients come from disadvantaged families, lack family support, or are abandoned, leading to complete dependence on hospital care. Furthermore, the compensation for healthcare professionals working in the field of psychiatry is not commensurate with the difficulties and pressures they face, leading to a lack of motivation and difficulties in attracting and retaining talent.

Patients participate in group activities, exercise, and play in the multi-purpose playground.

Over the past two years, along with the province's mechanisms and policies, the hospital had to develop its own recruitment mechanism using its own funds to attract and retain four more doctors. As a result, this is the time when the hospital has the highest number of doctors ever. Before 2023, the hospital only had a maximum of 12-13 doctors.

“In the past, the Provincial People's Council and the Provincial People's Committee have implemented mechanisms and policies to attract doctors to work in Khanh Hoa province. However, due to unsuitable mechanisms, the one-time incentive received upon joining the hospital differs significantly between general hospitals and psychiatric hospitals, with the difference being only about 10 million VND, making it difficult to attract doctors. From 2010 to 2023, the hospital only recruited one doctor, who voluntarily left after two years. By the end of 2024, the hospital had contracted three doctors, one of whom worked for more than four months before resigning. Therefore, the hospital urgently needs a system to retain doctors, similar to the system currently in place for doctors at health centers. At the same time, the Provincial People's Council should increase the funding for attracting doctors and provide monthly support to doctors working in specialized hospitals that struggle to attract personnel, such as those specializing in tuberculosis, lung diseases, and mental health, to encourage them to continue working.” Dr. Chương suggested.

The quiet work of doctors and nurses caring for mental health patients requires a love for their profession and an "iron spirit." Hopefully, there will be more attention, investment, and support from management levels and social organizations, as well as empathy and sharing from the community, so that healthcare for mental health patients can be further improved.

THAO LY - VINH THANH

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/phong-su/202507/bac-si-cua-nhung-benh-nhan-dac-biet-d1a5311/