Imagine you are sitting in a local coffee shop enjoying the early spring sunshine and you happen to over hear something like this, "I can't believe that new doctor is not taking new patients?" Or, "I have to wait four weeks for my annual medical examination! Why isn't this new doctor working full time?"
"Working full time..." Most of us who are of a certain age have been raised and conditioned to believe that anyone NOT working at least 40-60 hours each week should be ashamed and be less respected than those who do.
In fact, doctors who work "part-time" usually work between 50-55 hours per week. Our North American work ethic, solidly ingrained within our psyche, ensures that we fail to realize people who work less may indeed lead healthier, happier lives!
Perhaps they have chosen to be home when their children return from school, or maybe they schedule their work life so that they can take an art course or enjoy a walk on the Bruce Trail or participate in some community volunteer activities.
Some in our fair community seem to get really agitated when professional people make the choice to have a life and a career! Doctors, dentists, lawyers - are they supposed to be available to us whenever we need their expertise? Are they not entitled to lives of their own? Why, at this time of growing awareness in the health benefits of a balanced life, would we not open our minds to alternatives to traditional work habits?
Let's think about the consequences of having doctors who have learned to balance their lives compared to those who have chosen to work more than live.
Do you want to be treated by a doctor who has so many patients and so many appointments scheduled each day that she/he barely has time for you to discuss your issues during your allotted time slot? Do you want a doctor who has the time and energy to develop a nurturing understanding of your personal situation?
Do you want a doctor who is so tired that she/he has a difficult time staying on top of your health issues? Do you want health care providers who practice what they so often preach - that is: "everything in moderation"; "slow down and smell the roses"; "don't work too hard"?
We have a shortage of doctors in our communities. If we are hoping to attract new doctors, perhaps we need to adjust our expectations and consider that newcomers will bring their skilled profession to us, but they also may bring their growing families, their interest in hiking, skiing, swimming, art etc. Aren't these potential new doctors, new neighbours entitled to enjoy the gifts our beautiful area provides? Or do we really expect them to be the workaholics we think they should be?
The decisions we make and the support we give or withhold will ultimately affect our own health care and the health care of our family members - as they age and as they grow.
We have an opportunity to adjust attitudes and expectations so that our communities can welcome and support health care providers who look after themselves first so that they are healthy in body, mind and spirit and are able to provide health care to the rest of us.
