Monday 4 June 2012

Holistic Approach to Medical Care

There is Medicine & there is Holistic Medicine..........and there is holistic approach to Medical Care


I so often come across situations where just to the point advise & treatment may not be enough.There is this issue of patients window shopping -its a phenomenon on the rise...A part of it is economic reasons & some of it could be the doctors approach & relationship with the patient.

Especially when we advise surgery -we should not scare the patients.All possible option should be given.
If urgent -it should be properly explained.

For example-1.Adenotonsillectomy which can wait till school holidays
                      2.Safe Ear Drum Perforation Repair which can wait till appropriate off work can be arranged.

Ofcourse above situations demand precautionary measures like avoiding refrigerated & spicy food in case 1 & preventing water entering ear in case 2.
There should also a quick wayof getting in touch with your doctor-it could be opd visit or phone or email.
Lets see where our approach is going....
I went through web for definitions of each...
Medicine is the field of applied science and the art of healing...{note the art part of it...does it exist anymore or only scans & tests exists}


Holistic medicine focuses on how the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual elements of the body are interconnected to maintain wellness, or holistic health. When one part of the body or mind is not working properly, it is believed to affect the whole person.


Holistic approaches focus on the whole person rather than just on the illness or part of the body that is not healthy.


In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined health since 1948 this way:

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."



Clinical holistic medicine actually dates as far back as Hippocrates.An holistic approach to patient care was also suggested by Percival in his book - the first textbook of medical ethics - first published in 1803. Percival stated: "The feeling and emotions of the patients require to be known and to be attended to, no less than the symptoms of their diseases".


 
Doctors should no longer see patients as walking pathology . 

I get blamed to take a lot of time in opd consultations & am told to be quick...I decide which patient needs time spent with & who does not.It may be a simple problem & long consultation & vice versa.It all depends on the patients acceptence & understanding of the problem.
My approach differs with each person who comes & sits in front of me though the medical assessment & diagnosis may remain the same in all of them.

Trust real doctors sitting in front of you, not internet....

  On Doctors day 1st July 2022, we can only wish for a healthy life and relationship for both patients and doctor. The first practical class...