Healthcare as a Human Endeavor
“The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.” - William Osler
What does it mean to be a good doctor? Most people will give you a simple answer: Intelligence. Knowledge. Making effective decisions. While all these are necessary to being a ‘good doctor’, they are not sufficient. Sorry, pre-meds, but your A’s in anatomy and organic chemistry aren’t quite enough. The element of healthcare that is often overlooked by many students and professionals today is bedside manner. Sure, a doctor must be able to deliver bad news to patients and have conversations with them about treatment options. What we’re missing right now is caring for patients – and I mean really caring – about what they’re thinking and how they’re feeling. Although we think we have that under control, a shocking amount of people, specifically minorities, are dissatisfied.
A 2012 article from the National Cancer Institute presented data from studies done across various local, regional, and state populations. The review of these studies concluded that up to 52.0% of African Americans, 13.4% of Latinos, and 6.0% of Non-Hispanic whites perceived racial discrimination in the health-care system. Reports of discrimination included being more attentive to the needs of white patients, allowing their families to visit well after hours, and treating them before patients of other ethnicities who had been waiting longer. Minority patients also reported a condescending tone of white healthcare providers and staff, as well as less involvement in decision making than for caucasian patients. Of those who experienced discrimination in the healthcare system, self-reported health assessments and perceived quality of care were lower, and the likelihood that those patients would seek future treatment decreased.
This is not to say that all doctors, nurses, and physician assistants have implicit biases towards their patients. In fact, my experience shadowing doctors so far has led me to believe quite the opposite. Most healthcare professionals work in medicine in order to help people in any way they can. However, perception of treatment is more important than intention. If racial minorities do not trust healthcare institutions and do not believe that doctors have their best interests in mind, they will not be able to reap the benefits of the healthcare system and will be less likely to seek treatment for medical issues in the future.
In today’s world, we need more than ever to be aware of how we treat each other. Racial bias is present in so many corners of society; health care should be free from all prejudice. Perhaps this entails being a bit more mindful of the things we do and say to our patients. It might include making sure we understand not only their medical, but also their personal history. Or, maybe, it means simply taking that extra minute for small talk to ensure that the patient feels safe in your office.
For myself, as a student, it means expanding my horizons. Along with a slew of microbiology and neuroanatomy classes, I’m trying to incorporate more social science into my curriculum in an attempt to understand the world around me and the diverse people within it. I know that the lessons I learn in these classes will be immensely valuable in understanding the circumstances of others’, the societal issues behind those circumstances, and how I can best accommodate them and be the best doctor I can be.
