HealthCare Heal Thyself
Physical therapists poke fun at doctors. Doctors cannot bear to be in the same room as chiropractors. Everyone shits on nurses. The aloofness of surgeons is often impenetrable. Alternative practioners are cast aside in the gutter to fight it out for every last penny. And as the frustration grows, patients hate us all. How can healthcare be accessible with so many barriers?
The barriers amongst professionals and patients are often times created with the slightest remark, joke, or attitude. Although these circumstances may seem innocent, the brain is incredibly sensitive and “hears” everything. Conscious or unconscious, the psyche can be permanently seared by all inputs. The remaining scar provides a basis on which the healthcare barriers are constructed effortlessly. Walls limit communication, collaboration, and congeniality. Take for example China’s Great Wall and isolationist government that have existed for centuries. Many believe that China could have become the world’s superpower if it were not for this longstanding cultural isolation. Now that China has opened its doors to the world, it is becoming a rising force. If America is to build a superpower healthcare system, the walls need to come down. And that starts with every professional in healthcare, no government required.
Everyone needs to stop maintaining the anger at each other. With unity in the professional organizations, Universities, cities, small towns, and virtual communities; healthcare can heal itself. Just imagine the possibilities created by sharing. The flow of information critical for finding solutions will become a torrent that will flush out the contamination. Instead we wait for government to save us with an impossible dream. First, let us look long and hard at ourselves. Then, we can find the doors within our great wall of healthcare. Finally, let us open these doors to each other. With that effort, healthcare will truly be open for business.
Absolutely. For too long we have let others dictate what happens in health care when those who work day and in day out for our patients have had the answers all along. Nice post.
On a small scale we can increase our conversation on blogs like this and by attending conferences outside our expertise or professional area. Opening many small doors may be better than looking for the big door to open.
I couldn’t agree more! If it weren’t for therapists, chiropractors, and alternative medicine (the whole gammit) many of us would be in worse shape than we are now. Coming from a family with medical doctors, I have had my share of arguments about the value of other than the medical doctor. Mostly, I lost the argument or was dismissed as unknowledgable or just plain not very bright!