Humanistic Doctoring

Clinical medicine, and pediatrics in particular, fundamentally involves personal interaction and the development of personal relationships. In 1927, Francis Peabody noted: "The significance of the intimate personal relationship between the physician and patient cannot be too strongly emphasized, for in an extraordinarily large number of cases both diagnosis and treatment are directly dependent on it....One of the essential qualities of the clinician is interest in humanity, for the secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient."

The emphasis in your medical education to date, as far as sheer number of hours, has been upon knowledge. During your clinical year it is important to continue to acquire knowledge and begin to develop technical skills, but it is equally important to develop interactive skills with your patients. Creating effective therapeutic relationships with your patients (and their families) has been shown not only to increase patient satisfaction but also patient compliance.

During this clerkship, strive to place patient needs above your own and truly empathize with each patient and family situation. Be aware of natural barriers to keeping the patient's interests first, including ideas such as "I'm paying a lot of tuition so my learning comes first," "These kids are so vulnerable, I shouldn't really be their primary caretaker anyway," and "The team doesn't really need me to take care of this patient."