AMERICANS WANT PHYSICIANS HANDLING THEIR HEALTH CARE

Sheri Porter

doi:10.1370/afm.1637

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Misguided and unhelpful
Kristen H. Goodell

Published on: 17 March 2014

Published on: (17 March 2014)
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Misguided and unhelpful
Kristen H. Goodell, Director for Innovation in Medical Education
The November 2013 survey asking Americans who they want handling their health care - physicians or nonphysicians - was misguided in its attempt to comfort ourselves and prove our worth, and was unhelpful as we try to improve the health of our nation.
I am delighted that patients perceive family physicians as knowledgeable, trusted, and up-to-date. I wouldn't practice family medicine if I didn't believe I was h...
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The November 2013 survey asking Americans who they want handling their health care - physicians or nonphysicians - was misguided in its attempt to comfort ourselves and prove our worth, and was unhelpful as we try to improve the health of our nation.
I am delighted that patients perceive family physicians as knowledgeable, trusted, and up-to-date. I wouldn't practice family medicine if I didn't believe I was helping people in a significant way. But asking patients to compare physicians to non-physicians and to designate a leadership role for one group undermines patients' confidence in those other members of our care teams. I want my patients to trust the pharmacist who helps manage their medications, the MA in my office who calls to bring them in for needed visits and screenings, the NP who sees them for every other diabetes follow-up visit. Further, all of us need to be able to trust each other! Comparisons like those in this survey cement divisions between the professionals who must depend on each other for the benefit of those we care for.
You do not improve the performance of a soccer team by ranking the players. You focus on the team as an entity, and identify and utilize the greatest strengths of each player. To win, the team has to have a goalie, a few strikers, and some defense. The captain isn't necessarily the best player or the one with the most years of practice; she may be the one with the best organizational skills, or motivational leadership ability. We should think of our care teams like that. We have a goal - improved patient health - and a health care team focused together on it. The matter of who does what and who is in charge is determined by the individual strengths and abilities of each member. The outcome - better health - is what will convince the nation of our worth.
I am disappointed in the AAPF's response to this survey. Everyone knows Family Physicians are highly educated, dedicated, and hard working. We need to know that ourselves, to trust that our work will remain valuable to patients even as practice patterns and settings change. If the value decreases, it won't be because we failed to convince folks that we are the good guys, it will be a result of clinging to outmoded ways of thinking about medical care.
Competing interests: None declared
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Competing Interests: None declared.