Patients should expect trustworthy care
Trust is among the most sacred of concepts that as a medical professional we live by. From a visit to the ER, to clinic, to radiology or physical therapy, as a patient, you are putting your faith in us as providers to take care of you. That process of trust is not only assumed, it is also earned.
On the eve of my 20th wedding anniversary to my beautiful wife, this came to me. Trusting each other is an essential part of any relationship and it is the basis for what I practice today. T.R.U.S.T. is an acronym by which every provider should practice each day and every patient should expect.
The first part of the T.R.U.S.T. acronym is, “Treat every patient as if they are a member of your family.” It doesn’t matter your age, race, sex or religious beliefs. As a patient you become a member of my family. What that means to me is you are my spouse, brother, sister, mother, father, grandmother and grandfather. I will act and do what I would do as if you were a member of my family. I am going to act in your best interest and provide for you the most comprehensive and best possible care I can. Just like I expect caregivers to treat my family. It is a simple concept. Now if you are one who doesn’t get along with your family members, then you should treat your patients like whomever you love and hold dear to your heart, with the same love and compassion as those you love and hold most dear in your life.
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