Transcript

Dr. Jen Brull, Post Rock Family Medicine, Plainville, Kansas:

It is really hard for me to think about the heartland as people from the coast might think about it, because it's where I've always lived. 

It's me and it's my family, and it's the people that I am in community with. People here are Midwestern; you just take care of each other.

Empathizing with patients
[Walking in medical practice office] I absolutely empathize and understand with people who have hesitation around being vaccinated, and I always want them to hear me, as their doctor, saying I think this vaccine is safe, I think it's effective, and I think it's right for you. [Speaking to different patients wearing face  masks.]

[Sitting across from a patient; both wearing face masks] "Tell me where you are right now, what you're thinking about getting or not getting the COVID vaccine."

Male patient: "I guess I'm just not comfortable with everything yet. This was developed real quick."

Dr. Brull: "It did happen fast, but the reason it happened fast is because the United States made the decision that they were going to spend money." 

Patient: "Well, I could say I don't want to leave the impression that I absolutely would not take the vaccination, because I would. But until things get more serious, I probably won't."

Dr. Brull: "I would love to see you get this vaccine, and I do believe in its safety and its efficacy." 

Patient: "Yeah. Do you remember the conversations we had about flu shots?"

Dr. Brull: "I do. [Laughs.] I asked you over and over again to get your flu shot, and one day you told me 'yes.' Why did you tell me 'yes' that day?" 

Patient: "I got tired of you asking."

Recommending the vaccine to patients
[In the office with a child and their parents]
Dr. Brull: "OK, you can pick one. Do you want Cinderella or 1, 2, 3 Zoom.

[Child points to 1, 2, 3 Zoom]: "That one."

Dr. Brull:  "Boom, easy choice."
When you have someone who you've seen, who's helped to take care of you, help take care of your family for 10 or 20 years saying that message, it means something. 

[Looking at another patient's throat] "Just take your mask off."

Just like I work with patients every day who want to be healthy, who want to have great health outcomes and who struggle with other medical advice I give them [listening with stethoscope]: taking medicines, or exercising, or losing weight or stopping smoking. 

[To another patient] "How are you?"

This is one of those things.

Male patient, wearing mask: "You know, I'm not anti, I'm not an anti-vaccine person. Like my kids are vaccinated, but I never got the flu vaccine, you know we've discussed that."

Dr. Brull: "I'm still working on you."

Patient: "So, I'm just not one, I don't know. I just don't do that."

Dr. Brull: "That sounds different than the last time we talked when you said 'maybe no way ever'." 

Patient: "I, I won't say I'll never get it, but right now I won't."  

Dr. Brull: "I'm not trying to change your mind, it really is just sort of like giving you information as you go. As always, I will hope that you do eventually make that decision and that Jody does, right, because I care about you guys. I care about your family."

Putting trust in Dr. Brull
Another male patient, wearing mask: "Again it all boils down to him, from what I hear, the quicker everybody gets vaccinated, the quicker we can get rid of these here."

Dr. Brull: "Have you seen anything after getting the shot that made you regret it in any way?"

Patient: "I've trusted you so many years, and especially last couple, and you know, I'm going by my faith in you, and anyway you've helped me out a bunch. So, you convinced me. That's what I did it."

[Outdoor scenery]
Dr. Brull: If I keep sharing with you how important I think it is, and how much I believe it's going to make us as a population, us as a community, you as a person healthier, and safer. Then that message will get through over time.