Rebuilding our broken healthcare system by re-establishing the art of healing
What’s Wrong with our Current Healthcare System
It is no secret that our current medical system is struggling. We are spending more in the US each year for healthcare and outcomes are getting worse. Part of the problem is our “sick care system”. Doctors are taught to treat diseases rather than prevent them. They have little time to get to know the patients they are treating and therefore miss some of the most important information about what their patients need to be well. While medicine is undoubtedly a science, it is also an art that involves a deep understanding of human nature, empathy, communication, and the ability to connect with patients on a personal level.
My goal is to re-establish the art of healing through coaching for health and wellness.
Evidence shows that empathy, compassion, and kindness can greatly influence a person's experience and healing process. Effective communication between the healthcare provider and patient is crucial - it builds trust and strengthens the provider-patient relationship. Each person is unique, and the art of medicine involves tailoring treatment plans and care to the specific needs, values, and preferences of the individual. Practitioners need to be culturally sensitive and aware of the diverse backgrounds and beliefs of their patients. Understanding cultural differences can help avoid misunderstandings and ensure that treatment plans align with a patient's values and customs.
The art of medicine recognizes that the human body, mind, and spirit are interconnected. Physicians must consider not only the physical aspects of a patient's health but also their emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Overall, the art of medicine emphasizes the importance of treating the person as a whole rather than merely a collection of symptoms or diseases.
My father and grandfather had successful medical practices in which they relied heavily on the art of medicine. Not only were they skilled and wise medical practitioners, but they were skilled and wise listeners. They understood the importance of one’s story to their overall health and well-being. They knew that understanding the individual’s home life, habits, diet, exercise, social support and more, brought forth as many important clues to the process of their healing as their medical examinations. The time constraints of our current health delivery system prevent the human interaction required for doctors to be able to hear and get to know their patients on a level from which they can base their prescriptions for healing. I support whole person healing by listening, hearing, and understanding the whole patient.
My Background
Born and raised in the Twin Cities by an ophthalmologist father and microbiologist mother, I was an only child to wonderful and accomplished individuals who demonstrated the importance of scientific inquiry combined with the “art of healing”. During high school I worked in my father’s office and was witness to his healing arts. His patients would consistently praise and thank him for visits as simple as vision checks. When I asked him his secret to happy patients, he explained that he simply took time with them and had a real interest in their health and their lives.
After finishing medical school in 2003, my wonderful mother was diagnosed with ALS. I spent the following year as her primary caregiver while also raising my children. Unfortunately, the medical community did not have much to offer her, other than palliative care. But it was clear that she, and I, needed more support. This was not long after Bill Moyers had produced his fascinating docuseries Healing and the Mind on PBS. Since western medicine had provided little in the way of healing her illness, we followed Mr. Moyers’ guidance toward complementary care options. We enrolled in Tai Chi and yoga classes and experimented with meditation as well. These modes of therapy may not have extended her life, but they provided community, some degree of psychological support, relaxation and moments of peace. Coincidentally, I was participating in a four-year theology certificate program through the Episcopal Church called Education for Ministry. This program provided a much-needed spiritual community for me as my parents were coming to the end of their lives. The material that we covered and the support I received from my mentor and classmates has forever shaped my life.
Losing my wonderful mother to such a devastating disease took a toll on me and my family spiritually, mentally and physically. She passed away in December 2004, and sadly, my father passed away a short time later from what I am certain was partly grief.
Just as caring for my aging parents was a transformative and life changing experience, parenting has brought insights to my life that I never expected. Two of our children have been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. I am thankful for the variety of therapies and practitioners who have been able to guide and assist our family as needed. And nine years ago our son was diagnosed with a syndrome now known as Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM), caused by a Polio-like virus. He was hospitalized for 10 days, two of those days in intensive care. This experience was the most frightening of my life. Thankfully, we were again surrounded by wonderful practitioners who were able to stabilize him and prevent his symptoms from progressing. Unfortunately, he did suffer significant paralysis. Once again, we found ourselves dealing with a medical condition for which western medicine did not have much to offer in the way of treatment. Although wonderful in many ways, our care team was somewhat negative and blunt about any chance of recovery. On one occasion our son was told that he would never be able to function without the use of a neck brace, but about four months after his illness, he took off his brace and has not worn it since. We were awed by our son’s strength and perseverance. There was clearly something more to his healing than medical intervention.
My personal experience has demonstrated the critical need for supportive therapies and communities in the process of healing. My academic and clinical background give me an understanding and appreciation of both western medicine and holistic healing. My family and I have been helped immeasurably by various therapies, support systems, and clinicians and we have seen firsthand how a holistic view of health and health care can make all the difference in one’s life.
