 | Robb Rose is Director of Marketing Operations at Wesley Rehabilitation Hospital of Wichita. Robb is also a Respiratory Therapist, Boarded Disability Analyst and Adjunct Faculty for Wichita Sate University. He holds a Masters in Human Resources from Webster University. Robb serves on the American Lung Association Regional Council and the American Heart Association Board of Directors. Robb is married and has 2 children. He can be reached at (316) 729-9999 |
Health & Rehabilitation
2005-06-01 10:48:00
Practicing compassionate care
: As a health care professional for over 25 years I often wonder what has happened to our health care in this country. It seems to be all about paperwork, and the bottom line. What's the deal and what can we do?
ANSWER: This is an ever increasing stressor for front line health care providers. In a 2004 Gallop Poll it was found that among professionals that exuded the most honesty and ethical standards were nurses and other frontline clinicians. They ranked 79% out of a possible 100, and physicians ranked 67% out of 100. This may serve as a reminder of some of the health care providers training that is often over looked years later. To fight the challenges of paperwork, boredom, and bottom line pressures, we can always remember that; It is about the patient! We can practice "Agape Care". Agape is a Greek word meaning selfless and unconditional love of human beings. A health care provider who practices Agape Care is above all humble, respectful, and not rude. They take the time to; first make eye contact and listen to their patient rather than all the equipment and paperwork; second they literally reach out to patients and provide a healing touch; third they show their patients respect by user surnames such as Mr. or Mrs.; forth they remember to speak the patients language rather than trying to impress with a lot of medical jargon. By practicing what we learned early on in our medical training we can avoid the stress of the new medical economics, care for our patients, and thus even improve their health and recovery. Dr. Scott Diering, an emergency room physician at Washington County Hospital in Hagerstown, MD is a noted expert in "Agape Care" and more information is available at his website entitled; http://www.loveyourpatients.org/
