for them to survive with any quality of life. Sometimes physicians
careful guardians of the overwhelming array of medical technology
don’t explain all the implications of full intervention versus comfort
and information that inundates us each day. Be caring, humble and
care because they feel it implies “giving up” in this age of medical
appreciative stewards of the trust our patients and their families
innovation. However, there comes a point when even the most
have placed in us. Be mindful and purposeful in every patient care
advanced technology cannot fix patients and we are obligated to
decision. If you find that you’re practicing medicine like a robot,
give honest and ethical options besides full intake a step back and remember that you’re more
tervention. We must respect our patients’ and/
than that. You’re a human being entrusted with
“I’ve
learned
that
people
will
or their surrogate decision makers’ choice to
the sacred task of taking care of other human
die naturally and peacefully after hearing and forget what you said, people beings who rely on you to keep them healthy,
understanding the facts.
will forget what you did, but treat and cure their illnesses, or suggest that
treatment has become futile and perhaps the
Without even realizing it, doctors let technol- people will never forget how
time has come to let nature take its course. Do
ogy put walls between them and their patients.
you made them feel.”
not forget that medicine is not just a science.
In my limited experience, it seems that many
It is an art that requires us to know and treat
- Maya Angelou
of us spend more time in front of a computer
the whole patient—body, mind and spirit. A
screen clicking on tests and medications we
robot would never be up to that challenge!
want to order, interpreting lab tests and radiology studies, and reading/writing in electronic medical records than
Suzanne McGee is a second year internal medicine resident with the
we do with patients. We get lazy with our physical exams, might
University of Louisville.
skimp on a good history because we know we can look it up in the
computer, and overall spend less time talking with and listening to
our patients than doctors did in bygone days. As a result of this
overwhelming amount of information we must interpret and tasks
we must complete, we forget about the interpersonal side of medicine. Let’s all work together to keep that in the forefront. It doesn’t
make more money, isn’t particularly glamorous, and takes a little
March 2016 HSC Medical Billing quarter page ad GLMS.ai
1
2/8/2016
extra time, but it’s the right thing to do and our patients \