It’s a lonely and isolating experience, being a patient. I remember this and experienced this 2^nd hand when I went with my mom to her various doctor appointments when she had uterine cancer. After watching the movie, I was reminded how much of a hard time patients have overall. From the moment of check-in with paper work and being calm until you’re called for your turn, to the moment of checking out where you must deal more paperwork and sometimes referrals to other specialists without an explanation. And even then, once you’ve arrived home you have to deal with the unexpected bill from the hospital. Patients are at the hands of system, and like Dr. Jack McKee said “…they want to get better. Because of that they put their lives in our hands.” Anyone can become a patient, that’s why its important and critical for providers and the healthcare team to empathize with patients. We can ensure the patient’s comfort and put them at ease by welcoming the patient through using their name, introducing yourself and role, along with giving them privacy or time to get ready. These small acts make the patient seem seen as a human rather than just a disease to be treated. It also allows for the patient-provider relationship to develop.

   Majority of the physicians see the patients as just “diseases that needed to be treated” including the main character, Dr. Jack McKee. For first female patient Dr. McKee saw, he started off with “Hi. How are you doing? I’m sorry we kept you waiting. Are we looking after you?” Dr. McKee didn’t bother using the patient’s name, introducing himself or his role in her care, nor did he ensure her comfort or readiness. Instead, he went straight to the clinician-centered interview and asked her “Are you sore?” Afterwards, Dr. McKee didn’t notify or gave her time to prepare for the physical exam; instead he went straight for it. Because of his clinician-centered approach, the patient had a hard time bringing up her concern regarding her husband and her scar surgery. Even then, Dr. McKee didn’t ask further questions on her concerns, he just gave a joking response.

    Once Dr. McKee himself became a patient, he also became familiar with having a strained relationship with his doctors because of their clinician-centered approach. The initial ENT physician that was recommended to treat his cancer also followed the clinician-centered approach. She did not greet him at his initial visit; instead she went straight to physical examination after the brief introduction. In addition, she broke out the news about his cancer in cold stoic tone. She then stated what the next steps were and left him alone in the room to stew over the news. There wasn’t any attempt to elicit emotional or personal context by the ENT. She was also in the same frame of mind in treating the disease instead of the patient. As a patient, Dr.McKee was left out of discussions for his own treatment options, had to deal with getting the wrong procedure (an enema) done because of miscommunication, and had to waste time filling out multiple forums because of hospital bureaucracy. He also had his privacy invaded when the curtains were removed while he was changing for his biopsy. In addition, the radiologist didn’t take Dr.McKee’s concern of radiation seriously when he requested for a lead apron. All of these incidents obviously took a toll on Dr.McKee who was already suffering from his cancer. In patient-centered approach the patient’s privacy, comfort, and readiness is taken into account. This approach helps the patient feel acknowledged and seen by their providers, beyond their illness.

   By having his interns act the role of patients, they’ll understand what it truly means to be a patient and have more empathy for them. The interns will understand how patients are the mercy of providers and the staff. The interns will understand the toll of red tape hospital bureaucracy has on patients when patients are already suffering from their illness. The interns will understand how it feels to arrive for an appointment as a patient, only to be turned away because the doctor isn’t available. The interns will understand that procedures can be scary especially for patients who don’t know what to expect when doing the procedure. All of these factors can make the interns more empathetic to the patient, so the interns won’t be late to their appointment with patients, they’ll be more considerate when ordering an MRI especially if the patient is claustrophobic, and they’ll talk patients through the procedures this way the patient doesn’t feel scared.