Russian Federation: Yulia Samsonova

Health experience related to: ischemic stroke

Integrated physical and mental health services provided with sensitivity to patients' needs and life circumstances accelerate recovery and improve perceptions of the quality of care.

In the summer of 2012, I had a stroke. It happened while I was visiting friends in Moscow. I spent an entire month hospitalized there and, after I was discharged, I continued treatment in my home town Yaroslavl, where I spent another month in the local hospital.

The paramedics came very quickly after I had the stroke. They immediately examined me and rushed me to the emergency room. The attitude of the physicians was good, even friendly, and I did not have to wait a long time to be seen. The only thing I would have liked done differently is the number of patients per room – there were eight in my case. It is difficult to share a room with so many other people in it.

When I started my follow-up treatment at an outpatient clinic in my hometown, I was seen by my neurologist who assembled a team of specialists that included a physician, a rheumatologist and a psychotherapist to work together and monitor my health. Now I visit my treating neurologist once a month by appointment but, if I run out of medications and need a prescription, I can get an appointment sooner. I can also set up an appointment online, which is very convenient for me.

My medical record is kept at the outpatient clinic and, if I ever need to bring it to other appointments, I can always get it. It was used by the specialists who reviewed my case and developed my treatment plan.

The doctors recommended that I start using a walking stick when I received my disability status. I was 27 years old at the time and very distraught about this and about my health situation in general. The neurologist recognized I was going through a difficult period in life and gave me a referral to see a psychotherapist. The consultation with the psychotherapist helped to normalize my mental state.

The fact that the health team did not treat me as "just another patient" was important for me. They treated me with compassion and understanding, knowing that it is difficult for a young woman to deal with a disability. It was important for me that the services were provided with sympathy.