Want to know who doctors are when no one is looking over their shoulders to ensure they are performing the standard of care, doing all their notes and tasks, and meeting their “quality metrics”? 

Recently there was a post in a doctors’ only Facebook group about an urgent medical condition, seeking advice about what to do. Within 24 hours there were 800 comments. In many of them, the poster indicated that they were checking back in for follow-up. These comments went on all night.

That’s who doctors are when nobody is looking. They care. They worry. They want answers. They want to make sure everything has been done and is alright. And they don’t really rest until that happens, even when they’re not personally responsible for the treatment or outcome.

They fundamentally care about the well-being of others. Honestly, I don't remember if the post was specifically about a physician or a patient. 

It doesn’t matter, because I have seen the same reaction, repeatedly, whether the “patient” was a doctor, family member, or just your average human. Doctors show up, offer advice, and then check back to make sure it’s been appropriately handled. 

If your doctor is worried about your radiology studies or lab results, they will literally check into the EMR all night to see the results. Ask me how I know.  

They do not place the order, walk away and figure that if it’s important they'll find out later (which they will thanks to the EMR). They won’t stop worrying until it’s clear by result or action that there is naught to worry about. 

At the height of the pandemic, when no beds were available in both major tertiary centers or smaller hospitals, doctors begged for help for their patients. And other doctors stepped in and offered suggestions for what centers to call, often their own institutions and phone numbers. And again checking back into the thread to ensure that the situation had been resolved later.

That’s who doctors are.

Click the button below for more information about coaching

More Musings