I'm sitting in the physician's lounge eavesdropping on two surgeon colleagues, who I both admire and respect, while they talk shop. But it's all about what's not working. With a heavy focus on "dumb" patients, referring physicians, admitting clerks, charge nurses.....
What's up with all the negative talk? Why don't we sit around sharing stories about all the good that surrounds us? What about the patient who asks her doctor "how are you doing?" on a day that has been visibly rough on her surgeon? The housekeeper who sees his job as making the patient environment as safe as possible for all who spend time in the hospital. The lady that works the cafeteria till that knows your name and your favourite afternoon treat. Or the charge nurse who takes the extra time to sit with his patient and her daughter to actually explore why it's difficult to take all the different pills we order without ever thinking about the complexity of compliance. And the referring physician, with limited access to diagnostics and support, who uses her clinical knowledge and expertise to make a really hard diagnosis and an appropriate, fully investigated referral.
Things are by no means perfect. But when all you can see and talk about is "what's wrong" maybe you should pause, take a look at yourself, then ask yourself the same question.
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