Page 7 - SF HOSPITAL NEWS NOVEMBER 2020

2020, In Hindsight
When It Comes to Patient Care

This is a year that truly will never be forgotten. – Give Compliments
My attempt to focus on some silver linings is in no way
disregarding the human and emotional toll of the pandemic.
In all life’s challenges, we need to look for the positives if we Although I am very good when I eventually
are to continue moving forward. get to their office, admittedly I am not a good
The widespread deployment of telehealth is regarded as patient when it comes to making appoint-
one of the greatest advancements to emerge from the pan- ments. For whatever reason, schedule, travel,
demic. This can deliver greatly enhanced access to care. But excuses, I manage to ignore texts, phone calls,
it will not replace the in-person delivery of medicine due to emails basically begging me to come in. On a
its obvious limitations. And it will not replace the compas- level equivalent to my aversion to gas station
sion that can be shared through personal interaction between sushi, I delay. This happened recently with my
a patient and physician. That physician-patient relationship dentist. Months back, I went to get two crowns
is at the core of our DCMA efforts to ensure physicians can BY FRASER COBBE (old hockey injuries) replaced. Despite their
offer both in-person and telehealth services to their patients. protests, I insisted on getting both temporary
In 2020, we relaunched Miami Medicine as a scientific crowns done in one visit. In the months since BY JAY JUFFRE
journal. We began providing free CME to members through both the print and online the temporary crowns were put in, that team
versions. The number of article submissions, volume of readership, and industry support tried, in vain, to get me back in to complete
continues to rise as we strive toward the ultimate goal of being recognized nationally. the work. “I’m busy. Sorry, I don’t have time this week” and “Hopefully,
This year also presented the reality that non-physician practitioners and corporate next week” is a synopsis of my typical response. Fast forward to this past
interests will continue to expand their role in health care delivery. Some of the failings of Friday when I received a text around 10:30 am. ‘The Doctor has an open-
our current system enable these disruptions. As a physician organization, we embrace ing at noon, I know you are really busy, but is there any way you could
disruption when quality care and increased access are equally intertwined. We recognize break away and come in?’ Looking quickly at my calendar, I replied, ‘I can
the struggle patients face trying to navigate the system, cost of health insurance, compli- make that work’. The response ‘Thank you! You’re the best patient ever!’ I
cations of billing, and the over-regulation of medicine. Our patients need lower costs and seriously doubt this is the case, however, my dentist was equally compli-
greater access, but not at the expense of quality. mentary, talking about how much he appreciated me coming in so we
While we cannot immediately reverse the scope expansions, we’ll continue advocating could get this done. When it comes to medical care, patients and their fam-
for a single standard of care for patients. We’re prepared to identify when patients are ilies have a myriad of emotions and approaches. There are good patients
harmed through substandard care. We’ll call out environments where medical profession- and difficult patients. Teach your team that every opportunity to care for
als are placed in situations to provide care for which they are not comfortable or compe- someone is a gift and no matter the situation, compliments can go a long
tent. The year 2020 has also brought heightened awareness of social injustice and health way. What if every patient felt like they were your team’s favorite? How
inequities. We’re proud of the diversity of thought and leadership throughout the DCMA. much easier would it be for that person to rave about you to friends and
We’ve launched a task force for African American women physicians to ensure our organ- family? How many compliments does your team give daily? How many
ization is responsive to their unique needs. We also continue to advance our Community should they?
Outreach Committee and Women in Medicine special interest group.
As we spend deserved time with our families during the upcoming holidays, let’s be Jay Juffre is Executive Vice President, ImageFIRST. For more information on
thankful for continued health and the health of those that are around us. ImageFIRST, call 1-800-932-7472 or visit www.imagefirst.com.

Fraser Cobbe is Executive Director, Dade County Medical Association.
For more information, contact the DCMA at (305) 324-8717.

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