Busines of Medicine: Encouraging News

PGY 39, Day 331

Re-Humanizing Health Care

I am happy to report encouraging news for Patients and Doctors.  The American College of Physician Executives (I am a member, and encourage all physicians to join this organization) hosted a very fine webinar on Re-Humanizing Health Care, which I participated in, largely because I was encouraged to do so by Charisse Jimenez.  Our email exchange that preceded this webinar will be abbreviated and included on future blogs, because it reflects my fundamental belief that The Profession of Medicine is driven by the Power of Love, and put to work in accordance with The Hippocratic Oath.  This webinar was outstanding, encouraging and heartwarming, for several reasons.  They include, but are not limited to these facts:
1. The topic is very timely. It reflects a growing recognition among physicians (and patients) that the business of medicine is routinely failing physicians and patients
2. Technology enabled a broad audience from across the country (around the world?) to participate.
3. This "boots on the ground" member was encouraged to participate and
4. was able to participate from my rural location in Maine,
5. "Important" People are listening,
6. I was encouraged and able to share my views on the need to realign Medical Care and "Health Care Institutions" in the USA to the needs of the patients, by focusing on our professional obligations and primary mission as it is outlined in the Hippocratic Oath for Patients and Physicians.  Specifically, I was able to make this statement at the end of the webinar.
"The Organizations appear to be confused. In some cases, they have become so preoccupied with money that they have completely lost sight of their Mission, and realignment is essential.  Our Mission is based upon Love and Care. The Oath is our practical guide."
Dr. Rubin's response was ... beautiful.  Through this, I see hope, that the ACPE will truly facilitate moves in the direction that will at least encourage reconstruction of the Doctor-Patient Relationship and use of The Hippocratic Oath, as the Doctor-Patient Relationship, as it is defined in the Hippocratic Oath is the foundation of any proper fix for America's Health Care "System".  My bias is toward development of Non Profit Doctor-Patient Cooperatives, but most models can work, if they are rational and based upon the Hippocratic Oath ... Not money ... Patients ... not Profit.

Here ... for now, is the email that was sent to me after the conference.  There are links to the details of the meeting, which may, or may not work for you.  If you need further information, please feel free to talk with me.  Email works best.

Feel the Love and Enjoy!

Dr. Mike


From: Charisse Jimenez
Date: May 25, 2012 9:02:57 EDT
To: Michael F. Mascia, MD, MPH (dr.mike@ihealsolutions.com)
Subject: ACPE - Post webinar evaluation and links.

Michael Mascia,
I found yesterday’s webinar, Physician Leaders: Their Unique Perspective Re-Humanizing Health Care fascinating and I appreciate you sharing an interest in this topic. A link to the slides and an audio recording appear below. Many of you requested a copy of the references and citations so Dr. Rubin is collecting these and I will send them to you next week. If you were able to listen to the whole session, would you take one minute to complete this post-webinar evaluation? Thank you in advance for your feedback as ACPE continues to work to support your work as a physician leader.Links:
·        Slide deck: http://net.acpe.org/webinars/rehumanizing.pdf ·        MP3 recording: http://net.acpe.org/webinars/rehumanizing.mp3  Enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend,
Charisse Jimenez
Director, Membership
800-562-8088