Big Medicine may be a big mistake

Bigger isn't always better.

Dr. Atul Gawande concludes in his New Yorker article that, "The Cheesecake Factory model represents our best prospect for change."

Is this the world where we live now? Chains are our wave of the future? Is this the type of innovation that you are looking for?

The article raises important issues regarding raising the quality of care in hospitals -- not medical care. Much of the problems outlined in the article are not about the orthopedic surgeon picking the wrong prosthesis, but the surgeon picking a prosthesis that was too expensive; other quality issues revolve around the attitude of the support staff.

It is hard to understand how big chains are going to improve this when we already have ample examples of poor service at major national hospital chains.

While some medical processes are being standardized, others don't lend themselves to this. For example, every neurologic patient is unique -- not at all akin to the chickens being prepared for Cheesecake Factory patrons. Chain hospital administrators will try to streamline neurologic care, much like thy do for knee replacements. This won't solve anything -- instead it will encourage the type of 2.5 minute neurologic examination described in the New Yorker article.

The solution is for Medicine to step up and to police itself and to use the time honored traditions of placing our patients first, educating ourselves throughout our lives and of educating the next generation of excellent American doctors.

Daniel Kantor, MD
President
Florida Society of Neurology

Everyday Matters ... really!

Does happiness make a difference?

Can you effect positive change in your life?

The 1200 applicants to the Everyday Matters  program seem to think so. Shawn Achor is the author of the bestselling book, The Happiness Advantage, which explores positive psychology and how we can all make a true change in our lives.

Daniel Kantor, MD had the opportunity to interview Shawn Achor and discuss Everyday Matters and practical ways to increase our happiness.

Consistent with Neurologique's focus on online social media, this interview was done by distance over the internet.

Shawn Achor received his bachelors and masters at Harvard University, but he points out that the selection process for Everyday Matters was even tougher ... 5 people were selected out of the 1200 applicants. These 5 individuals will work with the Everyday Matters team and we will all be able to follow their personal stories of growth at Everyday MS Matters.

So what do you do if you are sitting at home or at the office? How do you increase your happiness?

Practical Advice:

1. Take a few minutes to meditate or perform breathing exercises everyday.

MS can affect multitasking and escaping from the stressors of daily life, even for a few moments, may help to refocus you and energize you to fight the fatigue and pursue your daily goals.

2. Everyday write down one thing that brings you happiness ... and then accomplish it.

Simply writing it down will help you see that there are a lot of things that bring you happiness. After 30 days, you will have a list of 30 things that bring you happiness.

3. Choose one person from your social network and tell them in person or write them a note/email telling them why you value them and what they have accomplished.

There is no better way to feel happiness then to give it to others. You will soon realize how large your social network really is. According to Shawn Achor there research suggests a high (0.7) correlation between social interactions and happiness.

Some of you may be familiar with Neurologique's initiative Dear Newly Diagnosed Me. You can share advice that you would give yourself if you could go back in time to when you were first diagnosed.

What matters to you? How can you make other happy? How can you make yourself happy?

- Dr. Daniel Kantor, MD

  Medical Director

  Neurologique

   info@neurologique.org

   www.neurologique.org