Physicians today are not held in the same high
esteem as they used to be. We are often
portrayed as callous, intolerant, clutch-fisted, know-it-alls who schedule
patients around our daily golf game.
(For the record, I do not play golf.)
Physicians are not skilled enough at public relations. A few weeks ago, I got a brief glimpse of how
people react when we reveal our warm and fuzzy side unexpectedly.
We are human beings; mothers and fathers, sisters
and brothers, sons and daughters. Like
everyone else, we have bills to pay for homes, cars, and endless student loan
debt. Our days are stressful as we
constantly juggle to keep up with the demands of life. This should sound familiar to any adult
reading this article.
Recently, my husband and I attended an informational
school meeting and ran into a mother whose children I see in my clinic. She brought her 5 month old twins in a double
stroller and wheeled it to the back of the room. Just as the meeting began, the twins started
fussing. She picked one up and I walked
toward her gesturing that I could hold the other baby. She smiled, handed him over, and I enjoyed
holding and nuzzling him throughout the one hour meeting.
He cried here and there but overall consoled well in
my arms. About halfway through, he was
talking and cooing at me, which melted my heart. I love babies and their smell, smiles, and
giggles; I treasured my time with this beautiful boy. Seeing patients in public allows me a glimpse into
their reality outside my office walls.
As the meeting drew to a close, the learning
specialist at the school approached us.
She stopped to talk with mom, admired her son, and asked how old he was. Then she turned to me and inquired as to the
age of my child? I laughed and said, “They
are the same age; they are twins.” She
looked surprised and confused (obviously she did not witness the hand-off.)
The more interesting part occurred when mom said, “Yes, they are twins. She is
my pediatrician.” The learning
specialist was completely aghast, stunned, and speechless; her mouth dropped open
in shock. As she recovered, she said “Oh
my word. Really? (No lady. We play this joke all the time on
strangers.) Are you serious?” Clearly, she did not know what to say about
this unexpected situation.
Why is it unusual for a pediatrician to hold a
little patient in public for a spell? In
actuality, it is probably not that rare, but the public perception of
physicians makes it seem that way. I love
seeing my patients outside of my office.
She probably believed I was one of those nutty, hippy physicians… the kind
that have conversations and close relationships with their patients.
There is nothing extraordinary about this story
other than it made me realize we need to be better at public relations. When we establish connections with families
we care for, those stories should be publicized. I love my profession and am proud of what I
do, and who I am.
The “practice” of medicine can be extremely
challenging. We give patients our very
best every day. Doctors do care, but the
human body manifests disease is very different ways. No two patients are exactly alike (even
twins), and sometimes we will stumble along the way as we try to solve your health
dilemma. We need to be patient with one another and work together.
The public should know more about what goes on in the
minds and hearts of physicians. Please
share this piece and start a “Doctors Do Care” Challenge. If you are a physician, write a story about a
patient who changed your life. If you
are a patient and a physician has improved your life in some way, please share
your story with the same hashtag. #doctorsdocare.
The physician-patient relationship is and will
always be the most powerful therapeutic force in medicine. It is time we collectively harness it,
document it, and start a movement. #doctorsdocare. I know there are many stories to be
told and look forward to hearing them. #medicinematters #mydocrocks
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