Dr. Aviva Fliker’s Post

The irony wasn't lost on me as I wrote out my own ultrasound request 1 week ago. After years of treating patients, I found myself on the other side of healthcare – as the patient (yet again). We medical professionals pride ourselves on precision, control, and clinical detachment. Yet when the roles reverse, we often struggle with a peculiar form of cognitive dissonance. Our clinical knowledge becomes both a blessing and a burden – we understand every procedure, every potential complication, perhaps too well. The transition from provider to patient challenges our professional identity in unexpected ways. We resist the vulnerability that comes with accepting care from our colleagues. Our instinct to diagnose and treat battles with the necessity to trust and receive. We find ourselves analyzing every detail, perhaps over-interpreting each symptom through our trained lens. Today, as I experienced this role reversal firsthand, I gained profound insights into patient experience that no medical training could provide. Despite knowing the clinical aspects intimately, being the one in the hospital bed offers lessons in humility and humanity that will forever enhance my practice. To my fellow healthcare professionals: Sometimes the most valuable perspective comes when we remove our scrubs and allow ourselves to simply be patients. It reminds us that medicine isn't just about treating conditions – it's about understanding the whole patient experience, including the vulnerability and uncertainty that comes with it. This experience has deepened my empathy and understanding in ways that will undoubtedly influence my future interactions with patients. Sometimes, the best way to become a better healer is to experience being healed. #Healthcare #MedicalProfessionals #PatientExperience #MedicalHumility #ProfessionalGrowth

A Highly Recommended Read 📕 For Professionals in the Medical Field The significance of patient experience cannot be overstated, as it encompasses a journey—often lengthy and difficult. Each individual comes from a diverse background, carrying unique experiences that shape their perceptions of the world. As healthcare providers, it is imperative to reflect upon the question: How can we facilitate this process, rendering it more seamless, comprehensible, and humane? While efficiency and financial incentives may drive our endeavors, let us not overlook the profound impact of empathy, which can be conveyed even in brief interactions. It hinges on attitude, attentiveness, and genuine concern. Ultimately, we all aspiration to foster health, happiness, and mutual understanding. Special appreciation to Dr. Jean Paul Brutus for this insightful book 👏 Looking forward for my contribution as a future doctor 🤞 #healthcare #patientcare #empathy #doctor #physician #hospital

The Unexpected Joys of Medical Practice In healthcare, we often encounter situations that challenge both our knowledge and intuition. I recently shared a personal experience on Medium that taught me a profound lesson about the balance between clinical expertise and human empathy. A mother of four came to me with abdominal complaints, and during the examination, I felt something surprising—a baby. Despite her certainty that she wasn’t pregnant, I gently suggested she get an echography. Months later, she returned with a beautiful baby in her arms, reminding me of the unpredictable and joyful nature of our work.This experience underscored the importance of patience, trust, and humility in healthcare. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes our most significant role isn’t just to diagnose or treat, but to listen, support, and let the truth reveal itself over time. 💡 Key Takeaways: Communication is vital, especially when patients are skeptical or unsure.Trust between doctor and patient can lead to unexpected and rewarding outcomes. Empathy and patience are as crucial as medical knowledge in our practice. I invite you to read the full story on Medium, where I reflect on this and other experiences that have shaped my approach to medicine. Let’s continue to embrace the surprises and joys that come with this incredible journey. 🌟 #Healthcare #MedicalPractice #DoctorPatientRelationship #EmpathyInMedicine #TrustInHealthcare #PatientCare #MedicalStories #LifeAsADoctor #HealthcareProfessionals #MediumArticle #MedicalExperience #MedicalEducation #HumanSideOfMedicine https://lnkd.in/dbh-gVzK

What do people most look for in a Doctor? Competence and knowledge are crucial. Everybody wants their loved ones to be in skilled hands. But, one of my earliest experiences as a student taught me that patients seek more than just expertise. What they look for is- COMPASSION. Some of the best doctors you will ever meet are courteous and respectful. They greet their patients with genuine concern and warmth. Patients want human connection. They need empathy. They sense their doctors’ energy and positivity. As aspiring healthcare professionals, we must prioritize professionalism and attentiveness in our interactions with patients. Every detail matters – from our demeanor to our level of engagement. Patients notice and appreciate these efforts, which sets exceptional healthcare providers apart. Let’s continue to elevate the standard of care and make a meaningful impact in the lives of our patients. #PatientCare #HealthcareProfessionalism #Ophthalmology

As medical professionals, it's important to remember that good bedside manner is more than just a courtesy - it directly impacts our patients' health. Whether you're in medical school or already in practice, developing strong patient communication skills is essential for a successful career. What are your thoughts on this? #healthcare #bedsidemanner #medicalschool #clinicalrotations

Excited to share our latest blog post, "To Start or Not to Start: A Doctor’s Dilemma in the Healthcare Labyrinth". In this insightful read, we explore the complex arena many physicians find themselves in today due to the increasing corporatization of medicine. We understand and empathize with the frustrations many in the medical field are experiencing. The choice to open a private practice is monumental, fraught with both risk and reward. Our post dives deep into these challenges, aiming to provide guidance and understanding for those contemplating this significant step. Whether you're considering the leap into private practice or simply interested in the current landscape of the healthcare industry, this blog post is for you. Join us in a candid discussion on what it truly means to start a medical practice in today's healthcare environment. Read more about navigating the healthcare labyrinth and making informed decisions about your medical career: https://lnkd.in/gaNCqx3g #Healthcare #MedicalPractice #DoctorsDilemma #PhysicianEntrepreneurship

Looking to master the art of managing online patient reviews and testimonials? Follow these tips: -Respond promptly: Show gratitude for positive feedback and address concerns empathetically. -Encourage reviews: Ask satisfied patients to share their experiences on popular platforms. -Showcase testimonials: Feature glowing reviews on your website to build trust and credibility. Harness the power of patient feedback to enhance your online reputation and attract more patients to your practice! https://lnkd.in/e7TmfyPb #PrescriptionPR #Northport #LongIsland #DigitalMarketing #HealthcareMarketing #MedicalMarketing #Healthcare #Physician #Doctor #Marketing #Reputation #ReputationManagement

Recently, I read a post by another physician online about an experience he had decades ago, soon after he first became an attending in the ER. The experience still troubled him significantly.  The anecdote was one of so many in a long career on the front lines of healthcare, where life and death are often part of the daily events, amidst the otherwise mundane and ordinary. He retained an uneasy feeling about it even after all the interim years. #physiciancoaching #surgeoncoaching #physicianwellness  #surgeonwellness #physiciancoach #orthomastodon https://lnkd.in/gj_Vy226

Recently, I read a post by another physician online about an experience he had decades ago, soon after he first became an attending in the ER. The experience still troubled him significantly.  The anecdote was one of so many in a long career on the front lines of healthcare, where life and death are often part of the daily events, amidst the otherwise mundane and ordinary. He retained an uneasy feeling about it even after all the interim years. #physiciancoaching #surgeoncoaching #physicianwellness  #surgeonwellness #physiciancoach #orthomastodon https://lnkd.in/ggGWDCrR

Another form of gaslighting happens to medical practitioners themselves: When the physician is the patient, between physicians, between physicians and other members of the health care system, and between physicians and themselves. Such medical professional gaslighting has received little attention to date. Gaslighting occurs when there is a gaslighter- who must be right at all costs, and a gaslightee- who needs the approval of the gaslighter at all costs. It can occur on a macro level with the entire healthcare system, or a micro level between two individuals. Medical professionals are gaslit (often unintentionally) throughout their careers, a form of survival in an unsafe environment, and then unintentionally transfer learned behavior to patients, directly and indirectly, with time-honored beliefs:⁣ ⁣ Never show weakness.⁣ Never make a mistake, and smother it if you do.⁣ Respect the hierarchy.⁣ ⁣ Deviation from these tenets puts practitioners in the crosshairs of scrutiny. ⁣ Gaslighting a patient or medical professional is easy to do: simply plant a seed of doubt by making them feel wrong, weak, or crazy. The result is deep shame (“not enough-ness”), which manifests as constant survival mode behavior: ⁣ ⁣Am I OK? ⁣ What’s right? ⁣Who’s right? ⁣ Am I doing enough? ⁣Am I doing it wrong? ⁣ Is someone judging me? ⁣ Is my doctor wrong? ⁣ Will the patient find out? ⁣ Will I lose my job? ⁣ Am I safe? ⁣ ⁣ Gaslighting is especially likely to happen to women and people of color.⁣ ⁣ Medical centers are highly emotional environments; they are the sum of people’s experiences within them. Amidst other systemic issues in American health care, the permeation of shame in medical culture, in combination with a lack of formal training around how to cope with it, has far-reaching deleterious implications for practitioners and patient care. Struggle needs to be normalized, not pathologized.⁣ ⁣ #medicalprofessionalgaslighting #psychologicalsafety #gaslighting #shame #shameresilience #emotionalintelligence #healthcarereform #medicalculturejoins