Without the Whitecoat
By Florentino P. Alerta II, M.D.

The medical practice, 5 years after

TNT is now on its 5th year and this column is proud to have also existed for the past five fruitful years. How was the medical practice 5 years ago and at present? Had we made any progress in our community? Did we further educate them on the common illnesses that confront them? Had we addressed all the medical ailments and disease maladies, the newer drugs that had conquered the consumer market, and the newest trend and management in the field of Medicine? Had we stopped the drain out of doctors to other countries as nurses? What had been done by the present government on medical facilities closing down due to shortage of physicians and nurses? What happened to the malpractice bill? In general, where is the country's health care system heading to?

The specialty mentality had been embedded deep in the minds of our people and community that they never understood the meaning of caring as a physician. Medical practitioners tend to vie away from total caring of the human individual, but had rather concentrated his/her practice on the symptomatic relief of disease entity and had forgotten that the patient in front of him in his clinic office is a breathing human being, not just an organ system. Gone are the days when physicians pack their bags to do house calls and caring for the patient in his own domicile. The younger physicians tend to center their plans on immigrating to other countries like the US or Europe as nurses or medical technicians, thus it is wise to let your children take up nursing as a preparatory course instead of biology or any preparatory science course before enrolling in medical proper.

This column had been preaching eversince the importance of having one physician for the entire family that will take care of all the illnesses in the family. Ever wish you could find just one doctor for the entire family? -- those who are TRAINED in not just ONE (1) or TWO (2) but SIX (6) MEDICAL DISCIPLINES, namely Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychiatry and Community Medicine  and this is to remind and evenly inculcate in the minds of our community that they are not just “General Practitioners”, but physicians who had undergone residency training in a medical institution and had painstakingly rotated in all fields of medical practice from the intensive care unit all the way down to the emergency room. One thing which is commonly forgotten is a physician that is also trained to treat all biomedical and environmental health problems, a doctor that aims to prevent “CRISES” before it happens and someone that maintains good health as much as “curing” the illness, just remember that it is much more of the “ caring” aspect that will make the big difference and thus separates this field of practice from other specialties. The community at large should all understand that not all diseases is within the reach of physicians, the rest they only refer to the specialties… thus this will let the community understand further to take off the specialty mentality from their head. It's high time that we all learn that as patients it is a goal of getting well and alive all the time, and it is high time that the general public should open their eyes and minds and try to understand that there can be one physician that can take care of the entire family saving them a lot of money, and a physician that can refer them to a specialist if need be, a specialty that specializes in everyone (from adults to children) and are uniquely qualified, a physician that will take care and treat not just one organ disease, organ body system, but the whole and entire complex human being and his/her personality and as early in medical school proper we have to train our young doctors to view things this way, to become “a caring physician”

As a community we can change how things and ways in the medical practice will evolve, first remove in our hearts and minds the “specialty mentality”, remember to look for a physician that specializes in the human being not on the organ system, someone that could address the entire problem of the family from medical to psychological aspect… the biopsychosocial aspect of the human being, not just treat or cure but those who care for their patient as a human being not just a disease entity. Also, always be careful, of “wolves” in sheep’s clothing. ( if ever you preach the word of GOD, then practice what you preach… you hypocrites.)

Again, “ Ever Wish You Could Find Just One Doctor for The Entire Family?”…….choose a FAMILY PHYSICIAN… the one Doctor Who Specializes in You. The Filipino Family Physician… your PARTNER for a FULL LIFE.