Not being a physician, I chose to read further between the lines. Let's never take for granted just how challenging and emotional our careers are. Let's recognize that we, too, are human. Let's understand what our colleagues go through and be supportive of the human element. To demonstrate my point, while I train my colleagues to be supportive of any question or opportunity to break ties in treatment care decisions by helping with co-morbidity assessments, abnormal labs, medication interactions or social determinants; that is just being there for the clinical side. We must be there for the emotional side of patient and provider care. So, Dr. Saraiya, "how are you?"
Dr Saraiya, Everything you wrote resonated with how I see my own 14 year journey- what I have experienced and what I feel looms ahead.
What resonated the most was that the overall message- that this is an emotional journey. Scientific? Yes, but also emotional. It lines up with advice I give doctors and patients about having better relationships. Doctors need to take the white coat off and be a feeling person and patients need to bring their whole self to the exam room. Patients need to find oncologists with whom that can happen. We can not keep troubles from coming in the room, but we can make sure that room allows us to face those troubles not only with our minds, but also our hearts.
Not being a physician, I chose to read further between the lines. Let's never take for granted just how challenging and emotional our careers are. Let's recognize that we, too, are human. Let's understand what our colleagues go through and be supportive of the human element. To demonstrate my point, while I train my colleagues to be supportive of any question or opportunity to break ties in treatment care decisions by helping with co-morbidity assessments, abnormal labs, medication interactions or social determinants; that is just being there for the clinical side. We must be there for the emotional side of patient and provider care. So, Dr. Saraiya, "how are you?"
@Mike, many times that pause to answer that question “how are you” allows me to stop the clinical thought process and focus on me. Thank you for that.
Great post Dr Saraiya
Thank you Mr. Sykes. I wonder what resonated the most with you.
Dr Saraiya, Everything you wrote resonated with how I see my own 14 year journey- what I have experienced and what I feel looms ahead.
What resonated the most was that the overall message- that this is an emotional journey. Scientific? Yes, but also emotional. It lines up with advice I give doctors and patients about having better relationships. Doctors need to take the white coat off and be a feeling person and patients need to bring their whole self to the exam room. Patients need to find oncologists with whom that can happen. We can not keep troubles from coming in the room, but we can make sure that room allows us to face those troubles not only with our minds, but also our hearts.