Dr Jennie Byrne, MD, PhD’s Post

National Doctors' Day: Caring for Those Who Care for Us 🩺❤️ Today, on National Doctors' Day, while we honor the dedication and sacrifices of physicians everywhere, we must also confront the stark realities they face. As a physician myself, I've experienced the growing challenges that threaten the very core of our profession: administrative burdens that distance us from our patients, burnout that dims our passion, and a system that often leaves us feeling more like cogs in a wheel than healers. The statistics are alarming – with burnout rates soaring, autonomy shrinking, and, most heartbreakingly, a suicide rate among doctors that far exceeds the national average. These aren't just numbers; they represent our colleagues, friends, and perhaps ourselves at our most vulnerable. We entered this profession with a commitment to heal and serve, driven by a passion that deserves to be nurtured, not extinguished by systemic inefficiencies. Yet, the very structure of modern healthcare often impedes our ability to do just that. It's a paradox that those who dedicate their lives to caring for others are themselves in dire need of support and care. This National Doctors' Day, let's do more than just express gratitude. Let's commit to advocating for meaningful changes in healthcare. Changes that reduce the administrative burdens, that reignite physician autonomy, and, most importantly, that address the mental health crisis among doctors. It's time to care for those who spend their lives caring for us. To support them not just in word but in action. Our healthcare heroes deserve no less. Together, let's pave the way for a system that uplifts and supports its physicians, allowing them to thrive in their calling to heal. #NationalDoctorsDay #PhysicianWellbeing #HealthcareReform #SupportOurDoctors #HealthcareHeroes

Dear doctor, 1. Take care of your health. Don’t pretend to be a superhero. Because, the day you crumble, everything you’re holding up will crumble too. Also because  you just need to. 2. Burnout is common, but not necessary. You do not have to fall prey to this scourge. 3. Develop a healthy identity that doesn’t involve you being a superman, a savior, a martyr, or a fixer. 4. If you suffered certain things on your path to becoming a doctor, it doesn’t mean that you get to subject Junior Doctors to the same suffering. Do better. 5. Get the best job you possibly can. 6. Don’t fall prey to the belief that there are no better jobs out there. Remember, there is a Physician shortage, not a patient shortage. 7. Do something that you love every day. I am Dr. Shola Ezeokoli, Physician coach. I help busy physicians defeat and prevent burnout, as well as create options for themselves inside and outside of traditional medical practice. Check out our website below: 

Be kind to your doctor; trust me nobody really is anymore https://lnkd.in/dJt47iQ3 #KindnessMatters #HealthcareHeroes #HumanityInHealthcare #SpreadKindness #DoctorPatientRelationship #Gratitude #ActsOfKindness #PatientAppreciation #MedicalCommunity #PositiveImpact #SmallActsOfKindness #EmpathyInMedicine #HealthcareStories #MakeADifference #Inspiration #DoctorLife Doctor-patient relationship, Physician burnout, Medical empathy, Healthcare compassion, Doctor appreciation, Patient trust, Physician support, Healthcare professionalism, Empathetic healthcare, Doctor mental health

A word that patients use a lot in my interviews is CONTROL. They feel like theres not much they can control regarding how their body operates - chronic illness is not something you just take a pill to cure and be gone-, so their health journeys is something they take very seriously. Is the part that they can actually be in control of, and they are happy about it. It gives them peace. But this is not peace without also being lots of stress and frustration when it comes to navigating complex and disjointed systems with little or no help in most cases (just imagine coordinate the relationship with 3 to 6 specialists that are not working together: scheduling, meds, treatments, tests. This on top of being parents, spouses, employees, etc.) This burden also take them to the other extreme: the brink of giving up. And this comes with guilt, shame and finally, regret. Quitting is not an option, we are talking about a life or death situation. Is a daily rollercoaster. Patients shouldnt have to fight a battle on two fronts. The question here is not how patients can better cope with a broken system, as I have been reading on #healthcare forums, but instead how the system itself can be reformed to empower patients and TRULY improve their quality of life. A critical analysis of existing structures is long overdue. So, tell me… how many healthcare institutions are really equipped to provide #CoordinatedCare ?

Have you ever wondered why a sick person is called a " Patient"? The word “patient” conjures up a vision of quiet suffering, of someone lying patiently in a bed waiting for the doctor to come by and give of his or her skill, and of an unequal relationship between the user of healthcare services and the provider. The user is described simply as suffering, while the healthcare professional has a title, be it nurse or doctor, physiotherapist or phlebotomist. Patient comes from the Latin “patiens,” from “patior,” to suffer or bear. The patient, in this language, is truly passive—bearing whatever suffering is necessary and tolerating patiently the interventions of the outside expert. The active patient is a contradiction in terms, and it is the assumption underlying the passivity that is the most dangerous. It is that the user of services will remain passive in sickness, allowing the healthcare professional to take the active part and tell the user what to do. The passive patient will do what he or she is told, and will then wait patiently to recover. The healthcare professional is the healer, while the recipient of healthcare services is the healed, and does not need to take a part in any decision making or in any thinking about alternatives. This describes a type of relationship between healthcare professionals and their patients which may have sat happily with ancient ideas of respect for doctors, but it fits poorly with modern views of users taking an active part in their own health care, and, indeed, taking responsibility for some of their own recovery. And thus in such modern times, don't we need to coin another term to replace "patient"? 🤔

In anticipation of Men’s Health Week 2024, I want to address an issue that often goes unnoticed. As a Registered Nurse, I’ve observed firsthand how men overall navigate various health challenges but frequently delay seeking appropriate care. Society has long preserved the idea that men should go along with it silently, leading many in men to  postpone necessary medical attention. Yes much has been  done to  encourage men to talk about their health concerns, still, it does remains common for them to seek assistance only after their conditions have significantly progressed. This then delays and complicates treatment and exacerbates health issues. Let’s consider heart disease, a dire concern among men that can often be managed or mitigated with early intervention. Symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue are frequently dismissed or attributed to stress. Unfortunately, many men only seek medical advice when their conditions have reached advanced stages, hindering effective treatment. This issue is relevant in medico legal cases in the UK as men who don’t receive timely care also can find themselves in situations where their health has detoriated un necessarily and their loved ones bringing a case of negligence to the courts.

Whether you are at a crossroads, facing a health crisis, seeking insight, clarity, or validation on your next steps, or simply want to realign with your authentic self, Dr. Dolores is here to support you. 💕 🌟 Sessions with Dr. Dolores allow you to: ✅ Gain more clarity ✅ Reconnect with yourself ✅ Align with your inner knowing ✅ Clear and heal ancestral lineage patterns, trapped emotions, and inherited emotions ✅ Experience balance, a sense of calm, inner peace, and wellness. 👉 Check it out on Cleeri, https://lnkd.in/gijrZ2UM Dr. Dolores Fazzino, DNP, Nurse Practitioner, Medical Intuitive and Energy Whisperer ✨

The Hidden Value of Time in Medical Consultations: Why Listening Matters In today’s busy NHS patients do not often get the time to discuss their problems properly. They feel rushed. This is the recurring theme we find when visiting our patients. Giving more time in a consultation makes for a more effective doctor-patient relationship. When patients feel heard, they are more likely to share crucial information about their health, including symptoms they might otherwise overlook. This leads to more accurate diagnoses and better treatment outcomes. Moreover, it helps patients feel respected, valued, and comfortable, strengthening the doctor-patient relationship. Time also improves patient understanding and adherence to treatment plans. By thoroughly explaining conditions and addressing concerns, we can ensure that patients leave with a clear understanding of their health. Finally, time during consultations contributes to better mental well-being. Many patients, especially those facing chronic conditions, feel anxious or overwhelmed. Giving them a few extra minutes to express concerns can significantly reduce stress. This is a picture of one of our residents who just needed the time to discuss her concerns and we were able to resolve them quickly. #doctorpatientrelationship #time #proactivehealthcare #healthandwellbeing #convenienthealthcare

As a physician who has at times experienced burnout, I understand the reflex desire to throw in the towel and leave medicine. The call, nights, predictable days, and stress can take a toll on anyone. But now that I have a close relative with a serious medical problem, I have a newfound appreciation for the importance of caring and dedicated physicians. I beg you not to quit and leave medicine because we need you. We need each and every one of you. I hope that rather than leaving medicine, doctors experiencing physician burnout will consider alternatives like creative side projects or ways of making their existing jobs better. That may be easier than you think #physicianburnout #doctor #healthcare