Health Care. Eye Care. We Care.

By Donald C. Bartnick, CMPE, CEO

Maryland Eye Associates

. http://marylandeyeassociates.com

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Health Care. Eye Care. We Care.

Health care. Eye care. We care. What does it mean to care? Using the word care as a verb, the common meaning is “to be concerned with”. Using the word as a noun, another meaning is “the work of caring for or attending to someone”. Webster's definition of health care is “efforts made to maintain or restore health especially by trained and licensed professionals”.

We have very high expectations for our health care. We expect the very best technology and scientific advances utilized by exceptionally well-trained professionals. With the passage of recent healthcare bills and the implementation of healthcare exchanges, we expect that health care will be “covered” by our insurance. Many are finding that the out-of-pocket expense, as well as the premiums for coverage have increased significantly.

We expect easy access to health care. We expect to get an appointment with the appropriate doctor/specialist in short order and we expect to be able to schedule surgeries, tests or other procedures within a short timeframe. With more and more people receiving coverage as a result of the exchanges, access has been slowed.

We would like miraculous outcomes from heroic efforts to allow the continuance of our lifestyle. Sometimes we expect to be able to continue a lifestyle that results in poor health without the consequences. In those times, we frequently abdicate responsibility for our health to others and hold unrealistic expectations.

When we visit a doctor, we hold all of these expectations for our health care. But, when we visit a doctor, we also expect something else we expect to receive care. We expect to interact with people in the doctor's office that care people that are concerned with our well-being.

How can one tell if the people in the doctor's office, or even the doctor, care?

Most people attribute caring to another if the other person spends sufficient time to listen. Listening means that we not only hear but also empathize with the other person. We look the other person in the eye and are attentive. We are responsive to what the other person is telling us. We reflect what they say back to encourage understanding. We somehow demonstrate that we understand and are motivated to respond in a way that is helpful. We offer kind words. We refer to people by their name, showing appropriate respect for them as persons. We interact pleasantly and courteously. We strive to help. Sometimes our efforts may fall short, but we keep trying. We care.

Our efforts to seek and obtain appropriate health care are becoming ever more complicated. Insurance exchanges, deductibles, pre-authorizations, covered services, and access to specialists; electronic health records and PHI exchange within HIPAA guidelines; open access to care and getting appointments with the right specialists are continually changing. We need people that care.

In health care, in eye care, in life

• Look for people that care.
• Be a person who cares.
• Caring people help others.

At this time of year, choose to care. Show appreciation for the caring gestures of others. Help those less fortunate. Cherish those for whom you care and who care for you.