I've never worked for PP, but do work in women's health (formerly in a clinic setting, now in a private office) and I will never take anyone other than the patient back. After we're in a room, privately, and I can ask the person if they do indeed want the guest with them, they're comfortable discussing their health history in front of that person, etc., then I will retrieve their guest from the waiting room.
I'm very, very cautious about this. Alot of people want hand-holding, but aren't able/willing to discuss their past abortions, infections, etc. Or the person with them is an abusive partner. There are alot of variables, and I err on the side of protecting my patient, at least at first. After we're in the room and I can get a health history and consent for their guest to come back, it's a different situation.
(Unless of course the person is in for a procedure. I personally strongly prefer to not have a guest in-room during a procedure, because guests have a strong tendency to see blood or their friend/loved one in pain and have less-than-desirable reactions. Like passing out. It's a big problem when we're in the middle of a medical procedure and a guest passes out on the floor, or vomits. Bad juju, that).
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Date: 2007-10-28 02:32 am (UTC)I'm very, very cautious about this. Alot of people want hand-holding, but aren't able/willing to discuss their past abortions, infections, etc. Or the person with them is an abusive partner. There are alot of variables, and I err on the side of protecting my patient, at least at first. After we're in the room and I can get a health history and consent for their guest to come back, it's a different situation.
(Unless of course the person is in for a procedure. I personally strongly prefer to not have a guest in-room during a procedure, because guests have a strong tendency to see blood or their friend/loved one in pain and have less-than-desirable reactions. Like passing out. It's a big problem when we're in the middle of a medical procedure and a guest passes out on the floor, or vomits. Bad juju, that).