The constant is, and will always be, my interest in working
with and I hope helping the children in my community. I confess that I looked at other opportunities
in other areas of the country. But it
was too difficult to leave the kids I already know and I could not escape the
feeling of having unfinished business. I
have always felt loyalty is the strongest of virtues.
What has changed is my understanding of the need for full
and clear communication, not only between myself and the children who are my
patients, but also and especially with the parents and families of these
kids. I realize in retrospect that the
pressures of being involved with such a busy practice did not allow me to spend
as much time as I should have explaining my thinking and trying to understand
the concerns and expectations of all involved.
I was able, during my break, to talk to a number of practitioners about
how they maximize communication, and although I can tell you that no one has it
down to a science, I came away with a number of new ideas that I think will
help. I also hope I never lose sight of
the all-important trust factor that makes a successful doctor-patient
relationship.
I, like many Americans, spent the summer trying to grapple
with changes in policy as the Affordable Care Act begins to take effect. I promise not to get overly political, but I
find the ACA to be a tremendous opportunity to improve health care delivery,
especially in the pediatric specialties.
For one thing, more children will have insurance and access to quality
care. For another, the law promotes communication
and cooperation between specialty doctors and referrers and between doctors and
hospitals. And although it does not seem
so right now, I think it will ultimately empower patients in the management of
their own care. Obviously, there is much
more to see before anyone can make the final determination about the law.
Most importantly, my Sabbatical gave me an extended
opportunity to spend time with my family and to relearn the importance of
family ties. This time enabled me to
work with my son, a Second Year student at University of Virginia, on a number of
creative outlets. Through his encouragement,
I sketched and wrote. He even got me to
start running regularly, which I would have bet could never happen. I took voice lessons, which I had promised
myself for a long time now. I
accompanied my wife on travel that I would never have been able to do had I
been working – and so, I saw Brazil for the first time and attended the Gala
Opening of the American Ballet Theater in New York City, among other
adventures. Throughout it all my family
was a source of comfort and inspiration.
Perhaps most satisfying, I had the time to work with my
father, Henry, an esteemed orthopaedist living in semi-retirement in Boston, on
a book on Genetic Conditions in Orthopaedics, which has been published and is
available to anyone who has absolutely nothing better to do. We even included my son in the project as he
designed the cover art (see below).
