Transforming Lives through Movement: Dr. Rupam Sarkar (Part-2)
So, how do you keep yourself updated?
Rupam Sarkar (MedBound handle): That's a good question. I would like to give a message for this question. Whatever we are doing with the young people or any other profession, initially, what I used to do, I used to read research papers more than books.
I had an accident; I will not mention the name of the center. There was woman said that this is a wrong protocol. I showed him the research paper, and I said, "See, I have read it, I have written it here." So, she said, "Sorry, I am not disturbing your protocol." So, if you read the research paper, article paper, you will have a lot of proofs, and you will have a lot of points in front of you. Based on this proof, I treated. So, I basically read the research papers, research advantages, research data rather than bookish knowledge.
Have you ever experienced any complications with your patient, or is the condition such that you need to change the approach?
Yes, that is called improvisation. I think science is very bold and path oriented. For e.g. If you have a stroke patient, they will not work on one side. If you have to work repetitively, the patient's heart gets more rigid. It is a part of the process.
I studied, and that's why I can manage it. If you have knowledge, you can also manage it. If not, you can ask the senior, and he will tell you.
Can you give an example of a sport injury where you handled your success?
So, we worked with the Indian Wheelchair Cricket Team, and the captain of the team, Mr. Somjit Singh. You can see his profile; I also have a photo with him. We treated him; he was a patient with a spinal cord injury, so he couldn't walk, and he used to play cricket while sitting on a wheelchair.
It was a good explanation that we are supporting India. That was a positive experience.
It has happened that you treated a patient, his activity improved, his quality of life increased, everything has changed due to your treatment.
Definitely. It is true. If you do this, you will understand more. But yes, I am giving a case of a child. I got a referral case from the hospital. He had a traumatic brain injury, which caused diffuse cerebral injury.
He had received the wrong massage for 10 days, and it didn't do anything; it was just a time pass. After 10 days, when he came to me, I assured him that it will be normal and that it's good because it will recover easily. So, his recovery and the issue he had with the muscles of his hands and legs are much better now. Initially, he couldn't drink water, but today, he is able to run.
Small muscle takes time to recover as it is small. The rest of his life is about 80% the same. I have a video as well.
So, you have rehabilitation sessions. What are the techniques you use for patient safety?
High risk for both sexes, patient's beam balance, and weight. The second case is the patient's tracheostomy, which means the holes on the neck, that is called tracheostomy, that comes to its path. Okay. So, it is important to take care of this. See, how to explain this. Yes, you have to take care of vital cells. If the patient has a tracheostomy, or if it gets too much, it can be high or low. It can be cut off. If there is a history, we take a pulse oximeter. The patient comes in a state of shock, so we have to stop the patient. We can take a rest and continue the exercise.
A heavy patient who had no balance was standing on a proper standing frame with proper hardness. Now, hardness is also coming. The prop is installed, and the patient can stand. Fear of fall is completely zero. The patient falls down and falls down on the air. So, the hardness system is also coming. Now, body weight-bearing support system is also coming. So, safety is important. We will do the treatment later."
How do you manage your work-life balance and handle stress?
I have not had such stressful situations in my life. I am a multitasking person. I work in the college and take care of the patients. I also work on my mobile. This happens a lot. I have worked in the cardiology department, and in one case, the patient's heart rate was not visible.
So, if you see a particular case, it is a good thing. But if you face specific situations due to any family issue or something else, it can be challenging. Yes, but in such a state, you should not handle the patient without a cool mind. Neither should you let anger affect your state of mind.
Though we are doing a job, you have to fulfill the goal of 100% rather than just doing it. You shouldn't settle for less."
How do you prioritize the patient?
Good question. Maximum ortho cases - the patients are given 2-3 days, and the pain is gone. They don't need to seek further treatment. Medical expenses are a financial issue, and it prevents people from going to good rehab in India. Through counseling, we should get the treatment done as soon as possible.
Have you ever felt that you are giving a patient therapy and he feels pain and discomfort? How do you handle it?
Pain? No but usually, if we talk about ortho cases, then on the first day of treatment, there will be one or two days of elevated pain. We tell people that the pain will increase, but the injury will be reduced. So, that is the situation. If during the second treatment, there is no harm.
Do you use the latest devices in your rehabilitation process?
The cost of these devices is starting from Rs. 4,000 to 1 crore. Every center cannot afford it. Right. So, where we got more labor was first of all in healthy features, Ahmedabad. There, all the advance models are available. And there, we need capital for this. Not everyone can afford it.
If I can use this in the future, it will be called electric stimulation which units are used to regenerate the paralyzed muscle. So, I use it in the EU. And if I get a new device, I can apply it. That's the difference. If I can apply it, I can do it. But the cost of this is very high because I have to import it from foreign countries. It is not available in India.
Is there any patient case where you were in training, and the challenging part was handling the patient? Do you have any example?
Her name was Jalpaben. She had a stroke. She used to be very tired, and then she got her blood tested. Her muscles started to work, but her gait pattern, the pattern of walking, is called Gait in medical terms.
So, it was a mistake that the patient was walking, but the patient was walking in the wrong way, and there was some imbalance. So, this was an issue that the patient couldn't work properly. So, now, under the treatment of Dr. Rashmikant Shah, she was doing better. She is fine now. Otherwise, if the patient was walking like this, the patient would walk in the wrong way, and it would be a difficult part."
What do you think is the most rewarding part in your profession?
Seniors and juniors often ask me about therapies and jobs. I have been actively participating in various groups and updating job-related information to facilitate job development. I have attended numerous workshops and conferences. It feels gratifying to witness so many positive changes and attend numerous conferences. In our college, for the first time, I felt that sitting outside and discussing matters has become a habit.
I feel more aware, and I feel like I know everyone. There are so many reference connections in India. We receive help from friends, and we help them in return. It feels good to have a sense of family-like support among each other. That's what I find.
From the first year of your college until now, you have reached this position, how do you feel about yourself after reaching here?
You will have to change the way you think, the way you walk, the way you talk. So, from my second year, I used to attend workshops more than once.
I was not attending any of the classes. I was not interested in everyone. I was interested in certain aristocrats. Everyone is different. I thought that to be with them, you have to adapt to their ways. You have to gain knowledge, be friends with friends, and friends of friends. Only then will you be able to match this level in the current society. That's how I changed myself. I started going to workshops and companies with them, talked to them about how to develop income, how to treat patients, and I learned something new. All these things are the ones that make a difference - the connection. Earlier, I used to give practical exams in front of the teacher, and now I am a practical examiner myself. Now, I take the exam. So, some nostalgic moments are created.
Don't think I will fail in the exam now, and I have not failed in any exams since the first year. So, there is something about the message. It feels good thinking about how life changes.
You are a teacher now. Did you want to become a teacher always?
No, I told you earlier that the target I set is always there. I thought that I should gain good clinical exposure first. I should excel in the clinical part.
I like teaching my students. Teaching is a part of being a writer. That's it. I like to teach and I like to learn. Because the more knowledge you share, the more it multiplies. So, my first target was to first gain as much clinical expertise as possible and then go into teaching. And then I got a call from the University.
What are your passion and future goals?
I have a passion to serve my family.
Future goal, if you ask me about present and future goal, I will want to work academically so that I can apply for the principal post in the future, become eligible, and I am planning for my PhD.
