Making Room for Trust in the Doctor/Patient Relationship | Miri Lader, MD | TEDxDayton

Summary

The speaker, a pediatrician and combat soldier, addresses the critical issue of trust in medicine, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlighting the importance of a collaborative three-way relationship between doctors, patients, and caregivers, the speaker calls for a reevaluation of medical practices, including discrimination, cost barriers, and educational gaps. With the alternative medicine industry booming, the speaker urges collective responsibility to restore trust and suggests practical steps like virtual presence to improve patient outcomes, emphasizing the need for a united front against disease.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a significant lack of trust in science and medicine, which had severe consequences.
• 👨‍⚕️ Pediatricians are trained to establish trust quickly in a three-way relationship involving the doctor, patient, and caregiver.
• 🤝 A review in the New England Journal of Medicine found that parents trusted their child's care provider more when communication was collaborative.
• 🗡️ The speaker, a pediatrician and combat soldier, emphasizes the life-or-death importance of trust in leadership, drawing parallels to the medical field during the pandemic.
• 🤕 The speaker acknowledges the personal harm caused by medicine and the emotional toll of realizing the extent of this damage.
• 🏥 The medical field's lack of trust is partly due to some doctors not prioritizing patient care and safety as they should.
• 👩‍👧 As a mother, the speaker feels a responsibility to address the issue of trust in medicine for the sake of her children's future healthcare.
• 🔍 Trust is defined as choosing to make something important to you vulnerable to the actions of someone else, highlighting the risk involved in trusting healthcare providers.
• 💊 The alternative medicine industry's growth to a $100 billion market indicates a shift in patient trust towards non-Western medicine.
• 🏥🚫 Issues like discrimination, socioeconomic disparities, and educational gaps contribute to the erosion of trust in the medical system.
• 👩‍⚕️📱 Innovative solutions like using technology to include loved ones virtually can improve patient experience and satisfaction, as demonstrated by Dr. Barrett's story.

Q & A

What is the main issue highlighted by the speaker regarding the medical field?

The speaker highlights the issue of lack of trust in the medical field, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and how this lack of trust has led to negative outcomes, including loss of life.

What is unique about the practice of pediatrics according to the speaker?

The speaker explains that pediatrics is unique because it involves a three-way relationship between the doctor, the patient, and the caregiver, and that pediatricians are trained to establish trust quickly in this context.

Why is trust important in the doctor-patient relationship according to the New England Journal of Medicine review mentioned in the script?

The review found that parents trusted their child's care provider more when communication was geared towards collaboration, indicating that trust is crucial for effective teamwork and patient satisfaction.

What is the speaker's dual background that influences her perspective on trust in the medical field?

The speaker is both a pediatrician and a trained combat soldier, and she uses the concept of trust from both fields to emphasize its importance in the medical field, especially during a crisis like a pandemic.

What is the speaker's personal dilemma regarding trust in the medical field?

The speaker struggles with the fact that while she entered medicine to help people and finds fulfillment in it, she has discovered that not all doctors share the same commitment, and this realization challenges her belief in the medical field's trustworthiness.

What is the definition of trust provided by Charles Feldman in the script?

Charles Feldman defines trust as choosing to make something that's important to you vulnerable to the actions of someone else.

How has the lack of trust in Western medicine impacted the alternative medicine industry?

The lack of trust has led to a significant increase in the value of the alternative medicine industry, which grew to $100 billion, a 38% increase from pre-pandemic times, indicating that patients are seeking medical advice outside of Western medicine.

What is one example given in the script to illustrate the impact of socioeconomic status on health outcomes?

The script mentions a study from California that found COVID-19 patients from wealthier areas were less likely to be hospitalized than those from poorer areas, suggesting disparities in access to health care and healthy lifestyles.

What is the speaker's proposal to improve the doctor-patient relationship and increase trust?

The speaker proposes making it a universal expectation to have a third person present at every doctor's visit, someone who can help the patient remember questions, take notes, or serve as a reminder to the doctor of the patient's value as a loved one.

What is the significance of the iPad initiative mentioned by Dr. Barrett in the script?

Dr. Barrett's initiative to use an iPad to connect patients with their loved ones virtually during hospital visits shows the importance of emotional support and presence in patient care, which can improve patient experience and satisfaction.

How does the speaker describe the current dynamic between doctors and patients in relation to disease?

The speaker describes the current dynamic as a war between doctors and patients, while the real enemy, disease, continues to cause harm, emphasizing the need for trust and collaboration to effectively combat health issues.