If any of the advocates are half as avid as you, this project will do more than succeed. I loved this piece because demonstrated why your prior career was so outstanding. The adviceyour mentor gave you was a blueprint for success in all fields of endeavor.
My mentor in the Law give me the same advice. The key is to listen and communicate - things that have been lost. Advocacy and support were told to me not with the three W’s but with the three T’s,
time, talent and treasure..
As an aside, your writing is approaching your career as a doctor, which was incredible.
Best of luck to the group; hopefully they will succeed. However, I'd like to share my thoughts on the problem of finding a PCP. Sometimes the relationship between physician and patient is not a good fit for whatever reason. Most patients are not looking for a "friend" in their physician, but the relationship should be comfortable and non confrontational. Currently most primary care practices in RI are multi physician, and have a policy in place that prohibits a patient from switching physicians within that practice. As you can quickly see, this policy presents a problem for patients. There are only so many primary care practices, many of which are not accepting new patients. I feel a patient should be allowed to switch physicians, within a practice, once and if that doesn't work out move on. My adult daughter and I have encountered this scenario with two different RI PCP practices.
Ed, You are so correct in your evaluation of the PCP situation facing so many today. I happen to be very fortunate in that I have for years had good relationships with my PCP and other physicians. However, I keep reading about the derth of primary care in too many people's lives. How that in this grand country of ours can this be happening? I can only pray that the message you, Dr Fine, and others will begin a return to medical care that we once took for granted in this country.
Thanks for all you do. Keep up the fight for affordable family medical care. JC Yuill
Wonderful, and it makes so much sense. We, at South County Hospital, are currently in the throes of conflict with the CEO, CMO and the Board of Trustees who seem not to understand this.
They have gotten rid of PCP’s who don’t meet their production ‘standards’ as well as oncologists
(three have resigned in protest)
and cardiologists (left to join Care New England and Lifespan). [these are not Primary Care but further represent the mindless search for ‘dollars’ with no concern for the needs of the community.] Emphasis has been put on Ortho and Gastro as specialities that generate funds for the hospital.
Yes, I have been reading about the kerfuffle there, Roger. And, again, patients suffer. There is an answer, but it needs a lot of give and take, with patients being foremost on the agenda. Community effort for quality patient care, not production, must be considered.
We need more doctors! So many of them are retiring early or getting out because they don’t like what’s going on in their medical groups and hospitals. Many of the groups are owned by insurance companies, and the bottom line with them is only money. There are many great kids out there who would make perfect doctors, but cannot get into medical schools. Almost all of them now have to take a year after college and do some kind of research before they will even be considered as a candidate. They get out with huge debt on top of all that. Yet, if you look at some these large universities, they actually have endowments in the billions not millions, but billions. So sad!
Marilyn, as you point out, there are many hurdles to overcome. It can be done with organizations such as The Primary Care group of which I wrote. And with the support of many others, especially patients.
I have a primary care physician that is fantastic. I had an endocopy and colononoscopy a few days ago and yesterday, Sunday at 9:50 PM he sent me his comments on the procedure summary via the hospital portal in an email. He is a caring PCP for all his patients. I am lucky to have him as my PCP.
My Gastroenterolist has not contacted me except for a paper summary given to me after the procedure. It is my PCP who is following my care and gave me his thoughts on what the summary stated on a late Sunday evening. All my health care is from Lahey Health and all doctors have access to the summaries from all my surgeries and procedures.
Ed, today it is difficult to find a physician for those that are reaching out for their first time. When a group of medical professional's form a group to reach out to ensure folks can get medical care that's a home run. Once we have a physician it's our responsibility to help take care of ourselves. Eating healthy, exercise, good sleeping habits and reduce stress. If you smoke Quit, Quit! Help your physician by being a good patient.
Having been “ in the Pharmaceutical business”, I know you and how you dealt with your patients….first class and always empathetic to their issues.
I want to share one of my experiences with my P.C. physician, who is in the Brown Physician group.
As we were finishing up my appointment, I said to him that so many patients feel their doctor has X-Ray vision and a crystal ball. He laughed…and agreed.
The very best relationship, a pro active one, is to be completely open, honest and frank with your doctor.
Patients need to also be more empathetic to their physician’s journey to become a Board Certified Physician…..and know that good medical care can has to be a two way street so that everyone wins….
Ed,
If any of the advocates are half as avid as you, this project will do more than succeed. I loved this piece because demonstrated why your prior career was so outstanding. The adviceyour mentor gave you was a blueprint for success in all fields of endeavor.
My mentor in the Law give me the same advice. The key is to listen and communicate - things that have been lost. Advocacy and support were told to me not with the three W’s but with the three T’s,
time, talent and treasure..
As an aside, your writing is approaching your career as a doctor, which was incredible.
Paul
Thanks, Paul. To Listen and Communicate is critical.
I like the three T's.
Listen to your patient they are trying to tell you something
Indeed. Great advice. And they’re saying, “More primary care doctors!”
Best of luck to the group; hopefully they will succeed. However, I'd like to share my thoughts on the problem of finding a PCP. Sometimes the relationship between physician and patient is not a good fit for whatever reason. Most patients are not looking for a "friend" in their physician, but the relationship should be comfortable and non confrontational. Currently most primary care practices in RI are multi physician, and have a policy in place that prohibits a patient from switching physicians within that practice. As you can quickly see, this policy presents a problem for patients. There are only so many primary care practices, many of which are not accepting new patients. I feel a patient should be allowed to switch physicians, within a practice, once and if that doesn't work out move on. My adult daughter and I have encountered this scenario with two different RI PCP practices.
Joanne, this is the problem that this organization hopes to obviate. They are introducing the concept of a community care team.
I have been retired for 20+ years, and I receive calls every week with some variation of what you are writing.
The business of switching within a practice is an issue. I wish I had a better answer. So many are so frustrated.
Ed, You are so correct in your evaluation of the PCP situation facing so many today. I happen to be very fortunate in that I have for years had good relationships with my PCP and other physicians. However, I keep reading about the derth of primary care in too many people's lives. How that in this grand country of ours can this be happening? I can only pray that the message you, Dr Fine, and others will begin a return to medical care that we once took for granted in this country.
Thanks for all you do. Keep up the fight for affordable family medical care. JC Yuill
It can be fixed, John, but with patience and a huge community effort.
Wonderful, and it makes so much sense. We, at South County Hospital, are currently in the throes of conflict with the CEO, CMO and the Board of Trustees who seem not to understand this.
They have gotten rid of PCP’s who don’t meet their production ‘standards’ as well as oncologists
(three have resigned in protest)
and cardiologists (left to join Care New England and Lifespan). [these are not Primary Care but further represent the mindless search for ‘dollars’ with no concern for the needs of the community.] Emphasis has been put on Ortho and Gastro as specialities that generate funds for the hospital.
Yes, I have been reading about the kerfuffle there, Roger. And, again, patients suffer. There is an answer, but it needs a lot of give and take, with patients being foremost on the agenda. Community effort for quality patient care, not production, must be considered.
Having seen a small privately owned company turn into United Health Care the potential for this group to do great things is exciting and inspiring.
Yes, Tom, it can be done!
We need more doctors! So many of them are retiring early or getting out because they don’t like what’s going on in their medical groups and hospitals. Many of the groups are owned by insurance companies, and the bottom line with them is only money. There are many great kids out there who would make perfect doctors, but cannot get into medical schools. Almost all of them now have to take a year after college and do some kind of research before they will even be considered as a candidate. They get out with huge debt on top of all that. Yet, if you look at some these large universities, they actually have endowments in the billions not millions, but billions. So sad!
Marilyn, as you point out, there are many hurdles to overcome. It can be done with organizations such as The Primary Care group of which I wrote. And with the support of many others, especially patients.
I have a primary care physician that is fantastic. I had an endocopy and colononoscopy a few days ago and yesterday, Sunday at 9:50 PM he sent me his comments on the procedure summary via the hospital portal in an email. He is a caring PCP for all his patients. I am lucky to have him as my PCP.
Vin, are you talking about your Gastroenterologist. Technically not primary care. Help me understand.
Ed
My Gastroenterolist has not contacted me except for a paper summary given to me after the procedure. It is my PCP who is following my care and gave me his thoughts on what the summary stated on a late Sunday evening. All my health care is from Lahey Health and all doctors have access to the summaries from all my surgeries and procedures.
Ed, today it is difficult to find a physician for those that are reaching out for their first time. When a group of medical professional's form a group to reach out to ensure folks can get medical care that's a home run. Once we have a physician it's our responsibility to help take care of ourselves. Eating healthy, exercise, good sleeping habits and reduce stress. If you smoke Quit, Quit! Help your physician by being a good patient.
I agree, Peter. It has to be a team. And one of the goals of this group is that every American has a primary care team.
Having been “ in the Pharmaceutical business”, I know you and how you dealt with your patients….first class and always empathetic to their issues.
I want to share one of my experiences with my P.C. physician, who is in the Brown Physician group.
As we were finishing up my appointment, I said to him that so many patients feel their doctor has X-Ray vision and a crystal ball. He laughed…and agreed.
The very best relationship, a pro active one, is to be completely open, honest and frank with your doctor.
Patients need to also be more empathetic to their physician’s journey to become a Board Certified Physician…..and know that good medical care can has to be a two way street so that everyone wins….
Thanks for “listening “, Dr. Ed.
Thanks, Ed. Excellent points. Great observations. It has to be a team.
Great article and best of luck to the group. There work is much needed.
It is for sure, Michael