Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda
Dean-David Schillinger: The Power of Patients’ Stories
Dec 24, 2024
Dean-David Schillinger, Chief Resident Physician at San Francisco General Hospital and author of 'Telltale Hearts', discusses the transformative power of patient stories in healthcare. He emphasizes that understanding a patient's narrative can lead to better diagnoses than tests alone. Schillinger highlights the urgent need for empathy in medicine, especially for marginalized communities. He also advocates for enhancing patient interactions and prioritizing primary care in medical education, aiming for a more compassionate and effective healthcare system.
37:27
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Quick takeaways
- Eliciting patients' stories can unveil hidden health influences such as abuse or food insecurity, surpassing traditional medical diagnoses.
- The shift towards primary care is essential for holistic patient treatment, as specialists often miss the broader context of health issues.
Deep dives
The Importance of Patient Stories
Engaging with patients' stories plays a critical role in understanding their health. Health conditions are often deeply intertwined with the social and environmental contexts of individuals, emphasizing the importance of eliciting personal narratives during medical consultations. By listening to these stories, healthcare providers can uncover hidden influences affecting a patient's health, such as experiences with domestic violence or elder abuse. This approach not only aids in accurate diagnosis but also fosters a deeper connection between the physician and the patient.
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