 | There has recently been great interest in defining the role of the Doctor. RemedyUK welcomes the work that has gone into developing this statement.
Our own view is that the role should encompass Leadership, expertise, and an understanding of the individual nature of health care. |
1. Leadership
Healthcare teams require strong leadership from individuals who possess knowledge, stamina, intellectual curiosity and flexibility, with the capacity to effectively delegate and motivate others. A grasp of the scientific basis of medicine, ethics and law, together with a humane outlook, are critical attributes for success.
Doctors are required to dispassionately evaluate strands of disparate and mutually competing information. This requires intellectual rigour and an ability to grasp complex subjects in a short timeframe.
Recruitment and selection should favour those who can demonstrate these attributes.
Multidisciplinary delivery of health is now well established. Doctors work with a wide range of professionals, delivering holistic, evidence-based, collegiate, and resource sensitive care. Individual patients should be aware who is leading the team that is delivering their care. Doctors have a unique position within this hierarchy.
2. Experts in gathering information
Doctors need to be up to date in their field, and should develop strategies to maintain clinical excellence and evidence-based practice. They need to critically assess new information from a variety of sources. They should be familiar with modern forms of communication and technology.
Patients are now well informed about their health. Doctors must recognise this, and should avoid inappropriate paternalism.
3. Confidentiality and Self-awareness
Doctors hold a unique position of trust in society: that of being guardian to patients' health and confidant to personally sensitive information. The job carries considerable responsibilities and is intellectually and emotionally demanding. The stresses can, at times, be overwhelming. There is a well-recognised incidence of mental illness amongst doctors that is commonly denied or covered-up. The impact of this is inextricably linked to the care of the patients they are treating.
The profession should develop a supportive and non-punitive attitude to this, and systems, policies and procedures should be in place to help doctors with such difficulties. Reflective practice, self-awareness and external activities should be considered a core component of professional development, in order to enhance stress tolerance and minimise burnout.
4. Individual Care
Doctors have traditionally relied upon the medical model, through which a history and examination leads to diagnosis and a treatment plan.
Experienced doctors should ensure that the package of care being offered is individually tailored, multifaceted, and clinically appropriate. This may involve integrating many other domains that are relevant to patients, carers and their communities, including their cultural background, individual priorities and ethical considerations.