Basic Health Access

As stated by many, a return to abusive work hours during residency is a setback for "health" care. It is another indication that health care is not really about health or care or caring. One would think that health care leaders would not want to expose such truths or how insensitive they are. Today with yet another article indicating the increased health risks for those with even 1 hour less sleep a day, there is more than just another bad mental health day at stake. There is a large body of evidence, but then evidence basis denied is apparently OK for those who lead health science efforts. Residents are dying, most assuredly they are dying.  Some die in accidents. Others die in family tragedies. Yet others have long lasting sleep disruptions. Mental health issues are increasing. Their lives are dying and drying up.  The title of a blog can make all the difference.  Killing Our Residents Softly was an easy title to choose. The singing of Roberta Flack is easily ...

During this time of "value" focus, we have apparently replaced the temporary focus upon reflective practice. Recent patient care experiences confirm the value of reflection as there are so many dimensions of learning available, especially compared to the few via biomedical focus. Well being is about restorative time. Across residency training and primary care practice, there is an assault on this time and the value of such efforts. A major theme for practice or for patients or for those in training is the value of rest and reflection time. The most important learning requires rest and reflection - and these require time. Well-being is compromised when rest, reflection, and sleep are compromised. Too often it is easier to just work toward the end of the day. It is easier to speak too soon, listen too little, or jump to treatment as seen in too much medication. It is harder to insure best communication or to go the extra mile to impact the care experience of a child or a ne...