Healing is more than health care Health is more than the absence of disease, and care is more than the provision of diagnostic and treatment services. Comfort, confidence and communication contribute to improved outcomes and higher satisfaction, for both the patient and the doctor. Employers whip their employees back and forth between bidding HMOs in a war for the cheapest care. Health plans compete by selling professionals at the deepest discount. None of this translates directly into the well-being of the individual patient.
Family practice is based on relationships that count.
The physician who integrates knowledge and wisdom, nurtures important relationships and understands the needs of the whole patient will be the healer we need. Doctors are not the problem, disease is. We have a long tradition of achievement, dedication and professionalism and can generally be trusted to do the right thing. Now, many of us have taken on the role of protecting our patients from much that is going wrong in the health industry melee. Instead of griping about doctors gaming the system, cost control managers should work with us to design systems, align incentives and provide effective, efficient care to the patient.