Do You Even Care, Bro?

I was introduced to the above quote by the founder of a company I worked for in my 20s (the Roosevelt quote, not the Bro title, but I wouldn't be surprised if Teddy threw around an occasional BRO! 😁). The founder of the company was Bill Ray, he was a physicist by training and I was... well, definitely NOT a physicist. I was given the opportunity to travel the world and sit on a few Boards of Directors that I had absolutely no right sitting on. Board retreats would happen a few times each year, lasting for a few days. Each time I was with the group, I was intimidated by the fact that out of 25 people on the Board, 24 of them had a PhD, and I definitely did NOT have initials behind my name. They were 30-40 years older than me. They wore tweed, I wore Men's Wearhouse. They were confident in their words, I fumbled through mine. They drank scotch, I drank Bud Light.

The first one was bad, the second one was worse. After feeling completely humiliated on my second attempt, I asked Bill what I should do. I was suffering from imposter syndrome even before I knew what it was. He seemed perplexed by my question because he received great reports from the Board members he previously served with. I was flabbergasted because I was absolutely positive I added nothing of value to the discussions. Everyone else was more seasoned, more intelligent, and more vocal. I voiced my concern to my boss and he dropped this nugget on me "Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care." He explained that my interactions and questions felt like they came from the heart, so all those PhDs were impressed by me. Not because of what I knew but because I was able to connect with people.

So what?

Very few industries have more highly educated people than healthcare. Physicians come with decades of education, dealing in life or death situations almost daily. We expect them to know what they're talking about, and they are indeed knowledgeable in their field of expertise. But how many times have you heard people complain not of their doctor's competence, but of their bedside manner? Providers are overworked, rushed, and struggle to connect with their patients. The patient feedback is "the doctor didn't spend enough time with me", "the nurse didn't listen to my symptoms", and "the doctor spent more time looking at the computer monitor than looking at me".

Intelligence without caring is essentially talking to a machine as you've removed the humanity from the engagement. Many people would think that having a doctor that knows their stuff will always trump one who's personable. From a diagnosis or surgery standpoint, they may be right, but first and foremost, patients want their provider to connect with them.

By listening, connecting, and partnering with patients, physicians demonstrate the following attributes:

1. Trust-Building: Actively listening to patients fosters a sense of trust and rapport. Patients are more likely to adhere to treatment plans and recommendations from a physician they trust.
2. Personalization: By understanding patients' concerns and preferences, physicians can tailor their approach to each individual, leading to more effective and personalized care.
3. Collaboration:: Effective communication encourages patients to engage in shared decision-making, resulting in better treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction.
4. Validation and Respect: Patients feel validated and respected when their concerns are heard, leading to improved patient satisfaction and a stronger doctor-patient relationship.
5. Anxiety Reduction: Slowing down and attentively listening can help alleviate patient anxiety and apprehension, creating a more supportive and conducive healthcare environment.

While medical knowledge and expertise are crucial for diagnosing and treating illnesses, you may never fully treat the patient if you don't recognize and treat them as an individual rather than a diagnosis.

Congress Fumbling the Ball on Telemedicine?

Congress has until the end of the year to enact permanent reimbursement changes for telemedicine. Of course, they could also punt and just extend it again. For the life of me, I can't figure out why they wouldn't make it permanent. Once the government standardizes reimbursement for telemedicine services, the private insurers will almost certainly have to follow suit.

Maybe I just answered my own question...

(I'm also aware I'm using football analogies in baseball season, but I really miss football, and apparently so does Tom Brady)

Telemedicine by the Numbers (numbers provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

1. In 2021, 37.0% of adults used telemedicine in the past 12 months.
2. Telemedicine use increased with age, and was higher among women (42.0%) compared with men (31.7%).
3. Non-Hispanic White (39.2%) and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (40.6%) adults were more likely to use telemedicine compared with Hispanic (32.8%), non-Hispanic Black (33.1%), and non-Hispanic Asian (33.0%) adults.