That decline is at the heart of our own malaise. There are many effective actions we can take. We physicians have to take part in educating our patients about the system, the decisions being made, the criteria for those decisions and the impact they have on patient care. We have to be willing to listen to our patients, to understand their expectations just as much as their frustrations. Recognize the malaise.
Misery loves company.
The problems facing the system are not the sole province of either patients or physicians. We all have a great deal at stake. We can choose to fight our patients or to join them. The latter is the wiser choice. We also have to be able and willing to educate ourselves.