Stephen M.Sergay, Neurologist, Tampa Neurology Associates
Submitted November 06, 2018
Thank you, Dr. Sethi, for adding your voice to this vital discussion.(1) I concur: the mainspring of health caregiver fulfillment and motivation, and of patient well-being, is optimizing the patient-physician relationship while delivering the highest quality cognitive and procedural care. Over the centuries, medicine has bobbed on the ocean of scientific progress, social mores and economics. Our times are no different. Healthcare planning lauded as creative destruction has made way for disruptive innovation both of which have undoubtedly contributed to care delivery evolution. However, change will never be free of unintended consequences nor absolved from societal change. Therefore, no iteration of care delivery ever will be final: re-evaluation will always be necessary. Humility must be foundational in all enterprise planning. When patient and physician sustainability are not required outcomes of change, that change will be untenable and superseded more rapidly. I have written on health care delivery challenges in the US,(2) and described restorative methods for caregivers and patients.(3) In characterizing the “burnout patient”, I hope to advance discussion from the consequences of planning on doctors, to the inevitable repercussions for patients, surely the ultimate focus of health care planning and delivery.
1. Sergay, SM. The burnout patient. Neurol Clin Pract 2018;8:346-348.
2. Sergay, SM. Doctoring 2009, Embracing the Challenge. Neurology 2009;734; 1234-1239.
3. Sergay, SM. Charter on Physician Professional Flourishing, Neurology 2016; 87:2259-2265.
For disclosures, please contact the editorial office at ncpjournal@neurology.org.
Thank you, Dr. Sethi, for adding your voice to this vital discussion.(1) I concur: the mainspring of health caregiver fulfillment and motivation, and of patient well-being, is optimizing the patient-physician relationship while delivering the highest quality cognitive and procedural care. Over the centuries, medicine has bobbed on the ocean of scientific progress, social mores and economics. Our times are no different. Healthcare planning lauded as creative destruction has made way for disruptive innovation both of which have undoubtedly contributed to care delivery evolution. However, change will never be free of unintended consequences nor absolved from societal change. Therefore, no iteration of care delivery ever will be final: re-evaluation will always be necessary. Humility must be foundational in all enterprise planning. When patient and physician sustainability are not required outcomes of change, that change will be untenable and superseded more rapidly. I have written on health care delivery challenges in the US,(2) and described restorative methods for caregivers and patients.(3) In characterizing the “burnout patient”, I hope to advance discussion from the consequences of planning on doctors, to the inevitable repercussions for patients, surely the ultimate focus of health care planning and delivery.
1. Sergay, SM. The burnout patient. Neurol Clin Pract 2018;8:346-348.
2. Sergay, SM. Doctoring 2009, Embracing the Challenge. Neurology 2009;734; 1234-1239.
3. Sergay, SM. Charter on Physician Professional Flourishing, Neurology 2016; 87:2259-2265.
For disclosures, please contact the editorial office at ncpjournal@neurology.org.