The patient finally learns to laugh a bit, and it helps him through the last painful days of his suffering. As his fellow students wake up to Patch's healing efforts, they join in the efforts. Patch has a vision of a clinic where patients can come to get the help they need without fear of bills and insurance woes. They get their treatment, but they also cook, or clean, or care for another patient. This brings the humanity back to the medicine.
Patients know their doctors, and doctors know their patients.
A winning performance from Robin is a key here, and he turns on the machine in force. But, instead of being the manic maniac we all know and love, we get the new and very improved version. Sure, we get the clowning we all loved in things like Good Morning, Vietnam , but we also get to see that brilliant serious side of Robin, cultivated in things like Good Will Hunting and Dead Poets Society . It's the best of both worlds. The emotions of the character go deep into the audience.