What makes a good doctor a great doctor? Bedside manner.
The statistics are staggering: today one in four physician practices in the United States are owned by hospitals, with the pace of acquisition continuing unabated. This trend has given rise to an unmistakable shift in the dynamics of patient care:
- The decision making power of sole practitioners has decreased in numerous areas, including patients to see, expanding practice staff, hours of operation, and services to provide.
- Doctors who once enjoyed relative autonomy are now incentivized primarily by productivity metrics dictated by the hospital, with intense pressures to make their numbers
- Patients who once enjoyed close relationships with their provider are essentially reduced to products on an assembly line
Bedside manner – once regarded as an essential determinant of a doctor’s effectiveness – is in steep decline.
This development is further exacerbated by the increasing adoption of technology in health care. The benefits offered by cutting-edge Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, mobile apps, telemedicine, and other such innovations come at a cost. “Computers are enormously successful in areas where there is commonality that can be computerized,” notes Swansea University Professor of Computer Science Harold Thimbleby. “Areas where they have been less successful are those where success depends on the human element.”
In consultations, doctors are often glued to their computer screens, furiously typing notes, and interrogating the patient with a scripted set of questions. Eye contact – a simple, yet very important element of strong relationships – is almost non-existent in this cold, sterile environment.
Further contributing to the situation is the training that many physicians are receiving. A 2011 study in Academic Medicine noted the sharp decline of empathy at many medical schools. Unlike the management of Multiple Sclerosis, Type 1 Diabetes, and other degenerative diseases, bedside manner cannot be taught in the classroom: a great doctor or health care provider must have innate empathy within themselves. Perhaps it is based on life experiences, personal loss, or whatever prompted them to enter the field of medicine in the first place. Regardless of the reason, bedside manner is a missing piece of the patient experience in modern medicine.
A Cut Above
Research has demonstrated that a positive attitude can have a beneficial impact on healthcare outcomes, which drives GIOSTAR Chicago’s strong prioritization of personalized care for our patients.
This emphasis – along with the research breakthroughs from our scientific partner GIOSTAR, the pioneer in regenerative medicine – distinguishes us from the hordes of stem cell providers who take a more impersonal, transactional view.
GIOSTAR Chicago founder Shelly Sood had an epiphany after several life-altering personal experiences, which led her to truly understand the unparalleled fulfillment gained from diminishing the pain of others. Ms. Sood firmly believes in providing a VIP, five-star experience to all patients.
To deliver on this vision, GIOSTAR Chicago provides patients with a “spa-like” recovery room filled with dim lighting, orange-infused water, soft music, scented candles, and a light meal “It is important to help the patient feel more comfortable and answer any questions they may have prior to the procedure,” notes Dr. Michael Gellis, GIOSTAR Chicago Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. Dr. Gellis routinely calls patients prior to procedures, a practice that patients such as former Detroit Tigers pitcher Arnie Costell have greatly appreciated. “It’s not a cold, fly-by-night operation that you normally see at a doctor’s office,” noted former Oakland Athletics pitcher Mike Rossiter. “They really care about their patients, and want you feel warm and welcome, to and ‘part of the team.'”
To learn more about GIOSTAR Chicago, call us at 1-844-GIOSTAR (1-844-446-7827) or email us at info@giostarchicago.com.
References
Technology and the Future of Healthcare. J Public Health Res. 2013 Dec 1; 2(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4147743/
Empathy decline and its reasons: a systematic review of studies with medical students and residents. Acad Med. 2011 Aug;86(8):996-1009 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21670661
The New York Times, 03/27/17 A Positive Outlook May Be Good for Your Health https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/27/well/live/positive-thinking-may-improve-health-and-extend-life.html
