There are no best practices
Many interventions might work. A top-down solution could end up actually alienating people if it is a solution that was never the one they needed in the first place. They will feel like: "Well, there you go not listening to us again.”
Colin P. West, MD, PhD
Co-director, Mayo Clinic Program on Physician Well-being
Quoted in Neurology Today, December 7, 2017
Many interventions might work. A top-down solution could end up actually alienating people if it is a solution that was never the one they needed in the first place. They will feel like: "Well, there you go not listening to us again.”
Colin P. West, MD, PhD
Co-director, Mayo Clinic Program on Physician Well-being
Quoted in Neurology Today, December 7, 2017
Clear and succinct
"Diane is able to distill complex discussions into clear and succinct messages. Her work is timely, professional, and clearly enhanced by her comprehensive understanding of health care."
Patricia McGaffigan, RN, MS
Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Programs
National Patient Safety Foundation
Patricia McGaffigan, RN, MS
Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Programs
National Patient Safety Foundation
I am passionate about improving healthcare
because I’ve been at the frontlines. I left clinical practice because I found the delivery system ill-equipped to enable the kind of care I wanted to provide—care that is compassionate, safe, dependable, connected, and humane. After three years as a primary care physician, I trained in public health, hung up my stethoscope, and picked up my pen.
As a freelance writer, I highlight the individuals and organizations that are finding innovative ways to provide exceptional care. I tell their stories to celebrate their initiative and to allow others to replicate their successes. I produce videos of real patient stories to show why the patient experience matters. I see it as my calling to improve the system by inspiring change—change that benefits both patients and providers. As a physician of the health care system, I am committed to using words to uphold my oath to relieve suffering.
As a freelance writer, I highlight the individuals and organizations that are finding innovative ways to provide exceptional care. I tell their stories to celebrate their initiative and to allow others to replicate their successes. I produce videos of real patient stories to show why the patient experience matters. I see it as my calling to improve the system by inspiring change—change that benefits both patients and providers. As a physician of the health care system, I am committed to using words to uphold my oath to relieve suffering.
Why I left Medicine: read my guest post on CommonHealth blog
COLLECTING STORIES OF PHYSICIAN BURNOUT: I am currently working on a collection of the personal stories of physicians who have experienced burnout or career disillusionment. If you are willing to share your experience (anonymously, with identifying items removed), please contact me. Through this book, I hope to show the human cost of burnout and catalyze real change. Burnout is preventable. Let's do what we can to prevent caring physicians from leaving their chosen profession.
