tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519234397783312626.post8721937527429054143..comments2023-10-09T11:42:57.305-04:00Comments on Healthcare, etc.: The "but" is not the messageMarya Zilberberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16080475886113209344noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519234397783312626.post-57829272487913566402011-02-10T10:00:33.854-05:002011-02-10T10:00:33.854-05:00Pheski, I am fascinated by your comment! Would lov...Pheski, I am fascinated by your comment! Would love to hear from other clinicians whether they have anecdotally observed a similar phenomenon.Marya Zilberberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16080475886113209344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519234397783312626.post-85695128911712375682011-02-10T09:03:31.210-05:002011-02-10T09:03:31.210-05:00In our primary care practice (Maine) we talk about...In our primary care practice (Maine) we talk about the snowstorm epiphany. It occurs with fair regularity on days where a heavy snow causes multiple cancellations and our pace slows. Inevitably, one of us tells the group later in the week that the opportunity for an unhurried and deeper conversation with a patient has led to a solution to a problem that had resisted all previous attempts - often despite much testing. Sometimes it is a diagnostic breakthrough, sometimes therapeutic, and sometimes 'just' a deeper insight into and/or acceptance of an issue. But it is always truly rewarding for both the provider and the patient, and enough different from the routine that we are driven to tell all our partners.pheskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16102200723940843059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519234397783312626.post-80339380386784011882010-11-16T14:22:46.448-05:002010-11-16T14:22:46.448-05:00Thanks, Chuk, for your thoughtful comment. We seem...Thanks, Chuk, for your thoughtful comment. We seem to think that the "but" can solve the problem of time, when there are so many directions a doctor is pulled at all times. Not the least of which is the need to produce widgets.Marya Zilberberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16080475886113209344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519234397783312626.post-78250713337209179172010-11-16T13:10:32.264-05:002010-11-16T13:10:32.264-05:00Beautifully written piece, as always, Marya. You ...Beautifully written piece, as always, Marya. You are indeed correct when you indicate that the problem is clear and the solution is evasive. You are also correct in your assessment that we (implicitly and explicitly) minimize the need to deal with quality of life issues when we *presume* that the widget-making aspects of providing care are primary and all other issues must fall into place.<br /><br />Obviously this is not the way things should be. And it certainly is NOT what most of us envisioned as what would be most important before we became doctors.<br /><br />Your two examples at the beginning of this post reminded me of so many similar occasions in my professional career when focus on pathology or process was exactly not what the patient wanted from me. <br /><br />I certainly don't have a solution, but I've definitely been thinking about ways to (personally) strengthen my "social contract" with patients in every encounter. I truly feel that this would be the key to providing a much better service to my patients.<br /><br />Now. If only the over-arching structures that I have to deal with had the same perspective....<br /><br />More work to do.<br /><br />Regards.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667453506848186515noreply@blogger.com