” Here at Better Samaritan Institute, we want to call current and future medical professionals and students who have the same desires and stories as I do and improve patient outcomes globally. ”
“A prayer for comfort. A hand to hold. In medicine, it is not always the didactic academics and clinical lab results that can lead to healing; often, it can be the ability to comfort a patient. I remember when I was in Vietnam for a medical mission trip, there were often many patients who needed help but we lacked the supplies and surgeons. I saw the most bluest boy to a patient with severe scoliosis that she was unable to walk. As frustrated I was then, I realized that it was not the medicine or clinical knowledge that heal this patients, it was hope and compassion. Compassion gave the people in Vietnam hope to come back and let us treat them, continuously improving their conditions.
“As a Better Samaritan Intern, the theme of compassion and strive for better patient safety is integrated within the course and training. Every time I learn more about reducing medical errors and improving patient-doctor relationships, I am reminded of my time in Vietnam and my strive to serve. Here at Better Samaritan Institute, we want to call current and future medical professionals and students who have the same desires and stories as I do and improve patient outcomes globally. “
An Bui, Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine ’22
The motive for why we pursue excellence in healthcare is compassion. All people are precious and deserve the highest standard of treatment.
“Why is compassion important in patient-centered care? It’s been said that people don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care. The same is true within the doctor-patient relationship. Patients understand that physicians have amassed a great wealth of knowledge in medical science, spent years training to perfect their craft as diagnosticians; but without developing and incorporating compassion and empathy, patient will not feel they are receiving the care that they are due.
“In a complicated, fragmented healthcare system where doctors now spend more time dealing with administrative burdens, billing and insurance claims, one-on-one time with patients is compressed. Subsequently, patients feel reduced to their medical condition. Many leave unsatisfied, with a deeper sense of hopelessness because their care provider seemed impersonal, and hard to trust. Which is why we need to come back to the basics of compassionate care. Being a good doctor means more than just accurately prescribing the right medications at precise dosages. It means more than attaining a vast understanding of human anatomy and achieving mastery of various surgical competencies. Ultimately, the essence of practicing medicine is practicing compassion. It is to have an intense feeling of conviction when another is stricken by suffering, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate that suffering.
“When patients see that we truly care for them holistically as a person, not merely their specific disease or symptoms, they will be satisfied with our care. When they see our eager desire to increase their quality of life, they will better adhere to our prescribed medical treatments and recommendations. Here at BSI, we want to call current and future physicians to apply and cultivate compassion to promote trust within doctor-patient relationships and improve patient outcomes across healthcare. “
Stanley Saju, Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine ’22