For some of us, we have blind trust in the healthcare system. When we get sick, we expect a remedy. When our family members or ourselves are in pain, we want relief. The difficulty lies in each of us working together to be heard. Clinicians and patients benefit when healthcare providers look up from their tablets and listen to their patients. Conversations take time. They require attention, heart, and thoughtful contemplation as information is gathered. This is not a time to give in to the rush we experience today in healthcare.

Unfortunately, many people see and experience those impersonal treatments and avoid doctors and the hospital… until it becomes an emergency. The system is broken and leaves many people behind. 

Others question the science. Hospitals have their protocols, and these are not perfect in every situation. Here’s where politics comes into play. Building a relationship between clinician and patient is the goal. The limits of time negatively impact doing so to a greater degree. This makes it challenging for a patient to share personal information that could make the difference in how their treatment plan is designed and carried out successfully.