The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease ~ William Osler
The “doctor-patient relationship”. A concept that I learned about in my early years, before I knew I wanted to enter the medical field. Good patient care exists all around the world; a patient comes in with a problem, we assess, and we treat. Why must we be satisfied with “good”, when we can be “the best?”
I have always been interested in the dynamic of the doctor-patient relationship in the healthcare field. In my experience, I’ve come to understand the importance of that bond and how it affects medical care. Coming from a Greek family I learned first-hand how much our culture had to “trust” their medical providers to allow them to provide medical care. Often times for example, women are made to endure the pain of labor and are not treated with the same care if they cannot afford the out of pocket costs for proper care. I’ve also come to learn how the values of certain cultures intertwine to present with similar experiences. No one should be neglected the proper patient care.
I’ve always asked myself, “how can I be better?”, “how can I make their experience as comfortable and empathetic as possible?” Americas largest racial minority is the Spanish speaking population and I’ve encountered these patients a number of times throughout my medical career. Not only is learning Spanish vital to an optimal patient experience but cultural competency is crucial to understanding them. Being able to meet the patients cultural and social needs is a central step in providing effective treatment; I strive to do everything I can and be able to provide that type of care to the best of my abilities. Immersing myself in the culture of Bolivia I hope to grow the provider-patient relationship and bring my knowledge back to provide for the diverse American population.
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