Health Care Quarterly:

Fighting the good fight: J. Rhodes

John Rhodes

Don’t let the lab coats and scrubs fool you. Those trappings might be functional, but they camouflage one of the greatest secret weapons a medical professional can possess — the heart of a warrior.

Health Care Quarterly asked the folks on the frontlines of health care to think about their work like its a battle — because it often is. What is their biggest foe, and — most important — what are the tools in their arsenal to help stay ahead?

"If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.”

Obesity, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, smoking and excessive alcohol and the diseases they bring are some of the obvious threats to wellness we deal with every day in our primary care office. The best treatment for many diseases is to prevent them.

Studies confirm that much of the disease seen in a physician’s office could be prevented or delayed by a commitment to healthy lifestyle earlier in life (National Center for Health Statistics — Healthy People 2010 Final Review). It is sobering to see a patient regret previous life choices when faced with a serious health diagnosis such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), diabetes or heart disease. But lecturing doesn’t work, so here’s how

I work alongside my patients —

I explain that I care about them and want them to live a long and healthy life.

I do what I can to make sure they understand the path they’re on and where it could lead.

I ask them about their life, their family, their health and their work to try to understand the barriers to healthier choices. We discuss options and what can work for them both in the short and long term.

We stay in touch to discuss progress.

Helping a patient make changes that will impact their health for a lifetime is a great payoff in a family practice. The implementation is most likely to occur when presented through a trusting relationship between the patient and myself and when the recommendation is presented in a

caring and companionate way.

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