As we continue to focus on optimally providing COVID vaccinations for as many people as possible, there has been a digression into labeling those that are not yet immunized, as being “hesitant.” This labeling oversimplifies the situation and is frankly, incorrect in many cases. Simplifying such language is detrimental to our vaccine success. Similarly, when we identify people… Read More »
Last week I shared a post, Understanding and Instilling Trust in Our Patients, today’s post takes a deeper look at how to build that trust between patient and clinician. As we continue to focus on building patient trust, it’s necessary to recognize that one’s own characteristics play a critical role. For those times that we are dealing with… Read More »
With the recent legislative enactment of the 2016 Cures Act, I personally have received several comments and concerns. On the surface, the concept of information transparency is paramount as we move towards a more consumer-driven approach. As a patient, I should have immediate access to my information since it pertains to me and I wish to know what… Read More »
Recently, I have been hearing a conundrum concerning how should we be referring to the body of work around behavioral health. There is a growing number of people that think we should be referring to this area as mental health as to denote that there is a true clinical condition. This view is absolutely correct, except for it… Read More »
Naming conventions highlight underlying disease-centered philosophical approach to healthcare I remember a character created by comedian Bill Saluga back in the late 70s named Raymond J. Johnson Jr. When the character would be addressed as “Mr. Johnson,” he would go into a loud shrieking voice saying, “My name is Raymond J. Johnson Jr. Now you can call me… Read More »
“Use your words,” we say to our children when they are young. “Choose your words carefully,” we say to them as they grow. Words are used in the most common modes of communication, spoken and written. Words have specific meaning and, frequently, words are taken out of context. As healthcare continues to evolve, there are two words that… Read More »