In a women’s bathroom, doctor learns lesson in creativity
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Dr. Travis Baggett in the new clinic space at the shelter. They've moved out of the women's bathroom
About five years ago, Dr. Travis Baggett was working as a primary care physician at a homeless shelter for people with mental illness.
His office in the shelter was in the women’s bathroom. It was the only place with a sink and enough space to run the clinic.
“The idea was to reach out to people, meet them on their own terms,” he says. “In hindsight, the women’s bathroom may have missed the mark on that a little bit.”
It was there that Dr. Baggett learned a valuable lesson in creativity and compassion, from a patient named Dennis.
Dr. Travis Baggett is a general internist at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. He told this story as part of the American College of Physicians Doctor story slam. Listen to his full story above.
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