The Age of the Indifferent Clinician is Over

It was an extremely rewarding experience volunteering at the MUMUS Teddy Bear Hospital earlier this week as part of the Good Friday Appeal.

The event raises much needed funds for equipment, research and education to support the work of The Royal Children's Hospital.

...But that's not the only reason I participated.

I took part this year because I know what it was like to be a young child worried about my health. And I remember vividly how relieving it was when I visited a young female doctor who spoke in a way that made me feel safe, heard and understood.

'White coat anxiety' is real. Vulnerable patients, and particularly young children, need doctors who can come down to their level. That can mean physically (by kneeling down), emotionally (by being empathetic) or verbally (by using language that our patients can understand).

The age of the indifferent clinician is over. As aspiring medical professionals, we cannot hide behind our textbooks and computer monitors for much longer. For the sake of our future patients, our communities and ourselves, it's time to learn the delicate art of health communication.

Paraphrasing the wise words of Faber & Mazlish, we must learn how to talk so our patients will listen and listen so our patients will talk.



#doctors #communication #healtheducation #teddybearhospital