WITHOUT the WHITECOAT
Quality health care: A family physician's perspective
The 45th annual convention of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, Inc. had that theme in the midst of events and situations that affect he health care system of this country like the massive exodus of health care professionals like the nurses and the doctors-turned nurses. With a membership listing at 6,500 members all over the Philippines are the physicians and primary care providers that have to address these issues that affect our community. To "maximize awareness and a sense of responsibility in meeting the health needs of the less fortunate Filipino family, taking into account the high cost of medicines and expensive technology" as it was placed by Soraya P. Abubakar, over-all chairman of the convention.
The highlights of the year was a memorial lecture delivered by the past president of PAFP, Inc. Dra. Zorayda E. Leopando on "tatang" Ramon R. Angeles who has dedicated his life to family practice focusing on quality care for patients and their families, continuing medical education, and "tatang's" dream to have a family physician for every Filipino family. In our years and time we may not realize the dreams of "tatang" due to a massive "brain-drain" of physician-turned nurses in this country. The satisfaction in our daily practice comes not only from the "tons" of paper money that we garnered from our practice, but that affection and compassion that we all play as "caring" physicians. Medical practice is not just based on the theory of treatment or curing a specific disease entity or illness, but the caring and compassionate attention of that "Christian" doctor.
The family physician has tried to advance itself to gain respect and recognition from other specialties, but in our little community of Iloilo City some specialties are still limiting the practice of Family Medicine knowing in full that there are competencies from both societies on what are the allowed tasks for a Family Physician. In some corners of Metro Iloilo a medical institution still hangs a sign at the operating room department, by order of the Department of Surgery "No operating room privileges for Family Medical doctors". Well, the announcement did not specify if family medical doctors can do minor surgery or just a plain circumcision, at least I've learned something from it. For my next in-grown toenail, a manicure and pedicure procedure, I couldn't book it in the operating room. On my own I just want to give some little contributions to the medical institution in the form of minor operating room fees; what the heck, who needs a measly crumble piece of bread when you can have the whole cake. Sometimes we also have to look upon the loyalties that we have for medical institutions, a hospital will depend a lot on its doctors who bring a lot of clients, for some it means the survival of the hospital, then why do a lot of medical institutions in the city make it hard for physicians to apply for visiting staff? With the exodus of nurses the practice of medicine should not be prohibitive or selective alone, it should be open, free and will solely benefit the patient and his family.
The quality of health care will thus suffer not just primarily on the "brain-drain" phenomena, but if we won't keep everyone abreast with the ever changing trends in the field of Medicine. We can be able to address our community problems when it comes to its medical illnesses once we started preventive programs, nutrition programs and wellness and life-style modification measures.
The quality health care will depend upon the physician, armed will all the needed medical education and know-how on the new trends of standardized medical practice and on how he views his patient. For some, and that includes this writer, we are here to stay and render that affordable and quality health care for our communities and families. Quality health care can never be equated to monetary and financial situation, but there are times that we have to wake up from our dreams and slap ourselves once in the cheeks that the real world is out there not embedded in our subconscious mind.