Doctors do more than just treat sick or injured people. They must also follow the highest standards of integrity, competence, and moral values while they work. I mean, it’s “healthcare”—not “healthdon’tcare”. Public trust is an essential part of any physician’s job. However, healthcare reform and technological advancements have left medical professionals scrambling to keep up. Continue reading for a complete guide to physician professionalism!
As much as we hope that all medical professionals have our best interest in mind, most people have had at least one poor experience with a current or former doctor. For example, physicians are now using special software to document their care. This sounds like a good thing, right? Unfortunately, in some cases, these programs can be so time-consuming that they actually hinder proper practice. You’ve probably have seen it before. For instance, a doctor may write a prescription without thoroughly examining a patient. Or, one doctor may quickly misinterpret your test results, meaning you have to get re-examined by another physician. Despite these discrepancies, most physicians do their best to provide the best care to their patients. But, they cannot do this unless they carefully follow the guidelines of physician professionalism.
“Professional competence is the habitual and judicious use of communication, knowledge, technical skills, clinical reasoning, emotions, values, and reflection in daily practice for the benefit of the individual and community being served.”
—Epstein and Hundert
Values of Physician Professionalism:
- Altruism: Putting the needs of patients ahead of the gains of personal interest.
- Duty: Ability to serve others, on and off the clock. Even being “on-call” when not on the clock. Essentially, being fully committed to their job and the tasks it involves.
- Respect: Showing dignity and esteem for not only patients but also their families, your colleagues, and others.
- Integrity: Providing fair and honest interactions with patients.
- Accountability: Taking responsibility for their patient’s health and the treatment plan implemented, even if something goes wrong.
Challenges
Sometimes, certain role models can create some unrealistic expectations for new doctors. This is especially true when it comes to medical television shows. For example, television shows often portray medical practitioners as morally loose, goofy, sarcastic, and unprofessional. Showrunners do this to dramatize the story, but these portrayals are almost never accurate.
Additionally, studies have shown that medical school can be largely responsible for training students to be cynical towards medical practice. Sure, students may attend a highly renowned program that appears to have values, but sometimes their initial idealism of becoming an ethical doctor is quickly lost. Try to ensure physician professionalism by avoiding apathy!
In a lot of ways, medical professionals are becoming less attached to their patients. Smaller and more patient-focused practices are becoming a thing of the past and there’s less commitment to the personal needs of each patient. Running a practice needs to be more about creating a positive sense of what a physician should be, instead of only focusing on what needs to be done.
What does society expect in medicine?
Competence, altruism, accountability, transparency, quality advice, and ethical practice. People want to be able to trust the person who is caring for them.
What do medical workers expect of society?
Trust, respect, shared responsibility of health between doctor and patient, and self-regulation. Doctors cannot do all the work when it comes to healing their patients. In order for treatment to work, the patient must actively follow a doctor’s advice when it comes to activities and prescriptions.
Are you looking for an opportunity to enhance your career as a physician? Look no further! LocumJobsOnline gives you access to thousands of travel positions around the country! Check out our other blogs for more information on what locum tenens work is and how to get started with an agency. Remember, we are always available for questions so don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
