Read on Twitter
I have been largely off Twitter this week.
My son is in the hospital. Nothing dangerous, but still not better.
A longer tweet- thread coming, but for now, let me just say: seeing your kid in recurrent pain is horrible.
My son is in the hospital. Nothing dangerous, but still not better.
A longer tweet- thread coming, but for now, let me just say: seeing your kid in recurrent pain is horrible.
2/ And - while acknowledging my privilege as a white doctor in this system, and ***with IMMENSE gratitude toward our entire care team*** - the #healthcare system sucks even worse for patients, than it does for docs & nurses.
3/ I **understand** how the system works ... and the day-to-day is still opaque!!
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But the bottom line is clear:
I'm tired.
My son is tired.
His docs and nurses are smart and kind, but they are tired too.
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But the bottom line is clear:
I'm tired.
My son is tired.
His docs and nurses are smart and kind, but they are tired too.
4/ I'm tired of the idea that just because pain can't be seen, somehow it isn't real.
5/ I'm tired of the hierarchy & the patriarchy. It serves no one.
6/ I'm tired of seeing colleagues worn out by their inability to provide top-notch care despite trying their hardest. 
I'm equally tired of the messed up incentives
in the system, which do NOT reward what patients (or docs & nurses) really care about.
I'm equally tired of the messed up incentives
in the system, which do NOT reward what patients (or docs & nurses) really care about.
7/ I'm tired of hearing (not by my care team, or at my hospital, but on #socialmedia) that "patient experience" is bs.
Let me be clear: it is not bs.
Medicine is rarely a straight line. In the interim, humanity matters. Feeling listened to matters. Respect matters.
Let me be clear: it is not bs.
Medicine is rarely a straight line. In the interim, humanity matters. Feeling listened to matters. Respect matters.
8/ And I'm tired of a system that makes it difficult - not impossible, but very challenging - to deliver an experience that meets patients' & families' needs.
A system that makes it challenging for patients & docs & nurses to truly be on the same team. To feel MUTUAL respect.
A system that makes it challenging for patients & docs & nurses to truly be on the same team. To feel MUTUAL respect.
9/ Honestly, we need a new model of #healthcare, don't you think? Not just a new financing model - but a truly new model of care delivery. Cuz TBH, we are serving NO ONE with the current, anachronistic structure.
10/ To any patient or family member I've been too busy to really hear: I'm sorry and I will do better. 
And to all the docs, nurses, techs, and ancillary staff who truly care: thank you.
And to all the docs, nurses, techs, and ancillary staff who truly care: thank you.
More to come. I welcome input and stories (& healing thoughts for my kiddo).
(Ps: Thank you @GitaPensaMD @drjessigold @NicoleNugentPhD @RobinCogan @njoshi8 @Rsbeidas for listening & validating today. 
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