The Captain of the Ship

“Doc, without you I wouldn’t have known or understood what to do.” Many of us hear this statement from our patients as they reflect upon their need to have a physician they trust during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives. They may first come to one of us through the recommendation of their insurance plan or the hospital, but more often, patients turn to friends or family for their choice. Patients who have a long-standing relationship with a physician already know on whom they can rely. This may be their internist, family physician, pediatrician, gynecologist, or even a specialist that they have seen on numerous occasions. As a result, a great deal of responsibility is placed on the shoulders of the chosen physician to be the “Captain of the Ship.” Cultivating teamwork between physicians, nurses, and all aspects of the hospital milieu creates a high degree
of collaboration between providers. Facilitating these synergistic relationships has been the focus of today’s health care. This approach accompanied by improved communication has led to superior outcomes. The importance of “the team” should not be underestimated, but obtaining the most effective results requires a navigator who can synthesize all information and events while leading the patient through these stormy waters. Patients believe their physician is, or should be, that navigator, the “Captain.” With this in mind, as physicians, we should accept and take pride in the role of “Captain” and search for ways to continually optimize our effectiveness. For me personally, the following are a few simple practices I follow to achieve this goal: I ensure I know my patient’s history, test results and the recommendations of consultants before visiting with the patient. This may seem self-evident but not knowing this information can be the quickest way to lose a patient’s confidence.
I explain my interpretation of the data and give my recommendations / plan. I ask the patient if they
understand the results, as well as, both my and the specialist’s impressions / recommendations. If there are gaps in the patient’s understanding, I fill them. If information is missing, my staff and I search for it and communicate it to the patient as soon as possible. We should not be afraid to let the patient know when we need to obtain further data and get back to them. At the end of the visit, the goal is for the patient to have a clear understanding of their condition and next steps in their treatment. Even as they face the difficulty of any illness, patients and their families feel their care
is being delivered according to a clearly defined and understandable diagnostic treatment plan when there is a “Captain” with them directing and navigating the ship.