Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Thank you: You make a damn big difference to this world

BirdStrike, MD
Physician
December 23, 2013
Share
Tweet
Share

I can’t tell you that the “patient satisfaction obsession” is suddenly going to focus on patient health over profits and start being applied fairly to doctors and nurses.

I can’t tell you that someday politicians, administrators and insurance companies will wake up and see things the way you and I do.

I can’t tell you that someday, all the demands for inappropriate medications, tests and treatments will end.

I can’t tell you that all of a sudden the government will stop making cumbersome and nonsensical rules and regulations, stop crushing private practice and start increasing instead of decreasing doctor pay.

I can’t tell you that all of a sudden you are going to stop taking hits in the line of duty for doing the right thing for your patients.

But what I can and will tell you is that I appreciate every time you or any other doctor, nurse, physician’s assistant, paramedic or tech laces it up for a shift to take care of the sick and injured.

I can tell you, “thanks,” for everyone too sick, too short of breath, dizzy, psychotic, weak, unconscious or too intoxicated to say it or realize it themselves.

I can tell you that I appreciate all the blood, sweat, tears and REM sleep you leave on the floor during your days and nights on the front lines treating the sick, bleeding, broken, bruised, and destitute.

For what it’s worth, you are a hero to many, whether they say it, know it, or not. I’ve been there, done it and still face the same battles.

What you do is not easy. It’s incredibly difficult. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise, including yourself. You make a damn big difference to this world.

For anyone who steps up to the plate in an emergency department, hospital, OR, or doctor’s office to be there when no one else can or will, to wait for me, my family members, your own friends, enemies or complete strangers to pass out, get run over, to arrest or stop breathing, keep your chin up.

For what it’s worth, you’re a hero to me.

“BirdStrike” is an emergency physician who blogs at Dr. Whitecoat.

ADVERTISEMENT

Prev

Building the medical home requires incremental steps

December 22, 2013 Kevin 5
…
Next

Stop asking radiologists to rule out disease

December 23, 2013 Kevin 18
…

Tagged as: Emergency Medicine

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Building the medical home requires incremental steps
Next Post >
Stop asking radiologists to rule out disease

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

More by BirdStrike, MD

  • After a drowning: An impossible question a doctor faces

    BirdStrike, MD
  • To the doctors who have lost patients. This is for you.

    BirdStrike, MD
  • Even if no life was saved, an ER physician makes a difference

    BirdStrike, MD

More in Physician

  • Why so many physicians struggle to feel proud—even when they should

    Jessie Mahoney, MD
  • If I had to choose: Choosing the patient over the protocol

    Patrick Hudson, MD
  • How a TV drama exposed the hidden grief of doctors

    Lauren Weintraub, MD
  • Why adults need to rediscover the power of play

    Anthony Fleg, MD
  • Physician patriots: the forgotten founders who lit the torch of liberty

    Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD
  • The child within: a grown woman’s quiet grief

    Dr. Damane Zehra
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • Why medical students are trading empathy for publications

      Vijay Rajput, MD | Education
    • Why does rifaximin cost 95 percent more in the U.S. than in Asia?

      Jai Kumar, MD, Brian Nohomovich, DO, PhD and Leonid Shamban, DO | Meds
    • The hidden cost of becoming a doctor: a South Asian perspective

      Momeina Aslam | Education
    • Physician patriots: the forgotten founders who lit the torch of liberty

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Physician
    • Why so many physicians struggle to feel proud—even when they should

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • What’s driving medical students away from primary care?

      ​​Vineeth Amba, MPH, Archita Goyal, and Wayne Altman, MD | Education
    • A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how

      Ankit Jain | Education
    • How dismantling DEI endangers the future of medical care

      Shashank Madhu and Christian Tallo | Education
    • How scales of justice saved a doctor-patient relationship

      Neil Baum, MD | Physician
    • Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check

      Joshua Baker and James Jackson, PsyD | Conditions
    • The broken health care system doesn’t have to break you

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Why so many physicians struggle to feel proud—even when they should

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • If I had to choose: Choosing the patient over the protocol

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • How a TV drama exposed the hidden grief of doctors

      Lauren Weintraub, MD | Physician
    • Why adults need to rediscover the power of play

      Anthony Fleg, MD | Physician
    • How collaboration across medical disciplines and patient advocacy cured a rare disease [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • 5 cancer myths that could delay your diagnosis or treatment

      Joseph Alvarnas, MD | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 7 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • Why medical students are trading empathy for publications

      Vijay Rajput, MD | Education
    • Why does rifaximin cost 95 percent more in the U.S. than in Asia?

      Jai Kumar, MD, Brian Nohomovich, DO, PhD and Leonid Shamban, DO | Meds
    • The hidden cost of becoming a doctor: a South Asian perspective

      Momeina Aslam | Education
    • Physician patriots: the forgotten founders who lit the torch of liberty

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Physician
    • Why so many physicians struggle to feel proud—even when they should

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • What’s driving medical students away from primary care?

      ​​Vineeth Amba, MPH, Archita Goyal, and Wayne Altman, MD | Education
    • A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how

      Ankit Jain | Education
    • How dismantling DEI endangers the future of medical care

      Shashank Madhu and Christian Tallo | Education
    • How scales of justice saved a doctor-patient relationship

      Neil Baum, MD | Physician
    • Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check

      Joshua Baker and James Jackson, PsyD | Conditions
    • The broken health care system doesn’t have to break you

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Why so many physicians struggle to feel proud—even when they should

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • If I had to choose: Choosing the patient over the protocol

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • How a TV drama exposed the hidden grief of doctors

      Lauren Weintraub, MD | Physician
    • Why adults need to rediscover the power of play

      Anthony Fleg, MD | Physician
    • How collaboration across medical disciplines and patient advocacy cured a rare disease [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • 5 cancer myths that could delay your diagnosis or treatment

      Joseph Alvarnas, MD | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Thank you: You make a damn big difference to this world
7 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...