Connecting The Dots of Healthcare

I had an interesting discussion with a savvy physician leader this week. Dean and I were discussing how downright, well… petty physicians can be.

Hey, and that’s not “physicians” like I’m referring to “other physicians,” it’s me included.

We make comments about other physicians because of our frustrations or even just because we’re having a bad day. It gets back to another physician. Resentments and ill feelings grow, and before you know it, a referral source sours, patients are stuck in the middle, sides are chosen, and … ultimately, we all lose.

Sure. We’d all like the world to look at us and think we’re perfect. Well, we’re not. I’m not. You’re not. But by and large, I have a deep respect with almost all physicians I’ve ever worked with. We all sacrifice for patients, we all work hard, (OK….. so I’m biased, I’ve always felt ____________ * specialty works a bit harder…. fill in the * with whatever YOUR speciality is!), and we all have a tough job.

But we need to cut each other a bit of slack now and again. We see a physician is doing well in his/her practice and need to overlook the twinge of jealousy of his/her “success” because, first of all, we DON’T know. Appearances can be deceiving. And moreover, SO WHAT if someone else is doing well? That’s a GOOD thing and will ultimately help, not hurt your business. Even if you’re in competition with that physician. (Healthy patient centered competition is a great driver of success!). When someone else achieves credit and recognition, tell ‘em you’re proud of them and how it helps all physicians to be acknowledged for positive things.

In the increasingly hostile healthcare environment we all practice in, we’ve got lots of people taking potshots at all of us. We don’t need sniping from our own tribe because of petty reasons. When a physician is hit by fire, it doesn’t matter if it was from the real enemy, or “friendly” fire. It still takes a toll when any of us sustain a hit and ultimately, we all suffer. We don’t need to be our own worst enemies.

Refer patients locally when the job can be done locally, not out of your own network of colleagues. Out referrals ultimately hurts everyone, the referring physician included. Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face! Make an effort to forgive and forget. Take good advice, for good advice, without becoming resentful of sage advice from someone who really knows something. Thank each other for their contributions to your own and your community’s success.

Love thy physician neighbor.

We need all the friends we can get… and knows us better than ourselves?

Practice not only for patient excellence, but for physician friendships as well.

We all need friends from time to time.

And like my mom used to tell me, “you’ve got to be a friend to have friends.”

Be a friend.