Physicians are an important part of our lives, and ultimately, every community’s health. As trained specialists, physicians study, diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses and injuries. Their knowledge and skills offer an important contribution to the health and evolution of society. Whether in the urban space or rural space, physicians are a pillar in the health care profession.
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1. First Contact of Healthcare
As physicians are the first people we see when we feel unwell, they are our first contact. General practitioner (GP) or family doctors are trained to examine a wide variety of conditions and determine the most appropriate treatments, or will refer patients to specialists. The most important thing that doctors offer is the time and expertise to detect problems early, this can save lives and lower risk of complications. Doctors treat everything from a mild infection to long-term, chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Example: A patient, totally unaware of his/her condition may be at high risk of high blood pressure, and will only find out when seen by a general doctor for a routine visit. If diagnosed early, treatment starts sooner, reducing long-term complications.
2. Specialized Training Saves Lives
Professionals go beyond general-trained health professionals to specialists, including cardiologists, pediatricians, neurologists, surgeons, internists, dermatologists, and others. While these specialists will differ in their coverage, they will all be trained with advanced medical knowledge to formulate differential diagnoses, diagnostic tests, and surgical procedures to treat conditions and improve patients’ outcomes, and quality of life.
Examples:
– Cardiologists will diagnosis and treat heart disease and do heart-related procedures.
– Pediatricians will manage children’s growth and development and treat health-related conditions.
– Neurologists will diagnosis and treat brain or nervous system disorders, like epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease.
– Surgeons will perform life-saving operations, removing tumors to fixing a broken bone.
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3. Doctors Also Provide Preventive Care
Doctors do not only treat disease but also help prevent disease. By routine checkups, vaccinations, health screenings, and lifestyle advice, doctors will help people maintain health over the long term. Preventative care wait time may reduce the chance of contracting mild or serious illnesses, and eventually reduce the cost of overall health care.
Preventive Care May Include:
– Blood pressure and cholesterol testing
– Cancer screening (e.g., breast, colon, cervical)
– Immunizations—flu, COVID-19, hepatitis, etc.
– Lifestyle counseling for diet, activity, and smoking cessation
Patients who see their doctors often are more likely to stay on top of emerging health issues.
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4. Mental Health and Emotional Support
Today’s doctors are educated not just on physical health issues but also understand mental health and the overall quality of life. A high number of people have stress, anxiety, depression, and mental health problems and do not recognize them. Many times, doctors are the first to notice these signs and get them the treatment or the special attention that they need.
What doctors can do concerning mental health?
– Detect abnormal mental health screening in routine or annual examinations
– Act on findings and prescribe medications for depression or anti-anxiety medications
– Refer to psychologists or psychiatrists when necessary
– Encourage things to promote mental health such as sleep hygiene, therapy, and mindfulness activities
In areas and cultures that view mental health as taboo, doctors are considered agents of change to decrease stigma and raise awareness.
5. Response in Emergencies or Pandemics
In times of emergency, such as a natural disaster or global health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors are first responders. They put themselves in harms way for hours on end as they undertake a high-pressure job and help save lives society is hoping to save. Emergency Medicine physicians, Intensive Care Unit physicians, Infectious Disease physicians and family physicians are all heroes in their own way.
Doctors help mobilize a public health effort, lead vaccination drives, and teach patients how to keep themselves safe. They not only have a clinical role but also an educational and humanitarian role.
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6. Ethical Responsibilities and Trust
Doctors are instructed to follow ethical principles and codes of conduct that guide their practice. They are trained to put the patient’s best interests first, keep information confidential, and practise compassion. Patients trust doctors to share their most intimate health information and also rely on their ethical professional judgement to make life-impacting decisions.
Professional Medical Ethics inlcude
– Informed consent
– Patient confidentiality
– Non-maleficence (do no harm)
– Beneficence (do good for the patient)
– Respect for patient autonomy
Doctors have a solemn duty to follow high standards because the impact of their decisions is significant, and can alter human life.
7. Lifelong Learning and Research in Medicine
The medical field is an ever-evolving place in which new discoveries, technologies, and treatments may influence the way medicine is practiced. Doctors must become committed to lifelong learning for the rest of their lives to remain current. This is accomplished through attending professional meetings and continuing medical education (CME), reading medical journals, and participating in clinical trials as both investigators and participants. In addition, doctors often produce research articles and case reports. Experiments and practice-based research often yield new discoveries that lead to medical advancement and improved treatment. Doctors engage in discoveries that could provide breakthroughs in treatment for heart disease, rare disorders, cancer, or infectious disease.
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8. Value of Long-Term Doctor-Patient Relationships
A good doctor-patient relationship is based on trust, communication, and continuity. Patients are more likely to have positive feelings towards doctors when they see the same doctor for extended periods of time. In addition to other reasons for positive feelings, these patients may receive more individually tailored care, as doctors will know their health history, preferences, activities, lifestyle, etc..
Value of strong doctor-patient relationships:
– Improved communication,
– Improved diagnosis,
– Improved patient satisfaction,
9. Doctoring in Public Health and Education
Many doctors engage in public health work. They educate communities on issues related to hygiene, nutrition, family planning and vaccinations. They collaborate with local and national government and non-governmental organizations to prevent diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, and to deal with the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Public Health Examples:
– Vaccination drives
– Community awareness campaigns
– Training rural health workers
– Giving advice about national health policy
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Some Final Thoughts
Doctors are more than just healthcare providers, they are lifesavers, educators, and advocates. Doctors are present from pre-natal care through geriatric care and everything in between. They provide care that helps to prevent disease, cure illness, comfort the sick, and steer us toward healthier choices
As technology continues to advance and as health care becomes more complex, doctors will remain at the center of this area. Whether they are working in hospitals, clinics or the community, doctors occupy the middle of the healing process.
Let us recognize the doctors for their work, support their work, and appreciate their role in creating a healthier planet.
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A caring doctor offers hope to the heart and healing to the body.”
