Q: How do physician-led care teams help patients enhance their general health and wellbeing?
Dr. Murphy: Having a physician lead your health care team is highly advantageous due to their ability to diagnose and treat more complex medical problems. Confidence in your team, which is something earned over time, gives peace of mind and reassurance to patients. This trust can allay fears of a possible serious health condition. Trust also allows the patient to consent to testing or surgery to correctly diagnose and treat problems that may arise.
Q: How does proactive health care relate to general wellbeing and mental health?
Dr. Murphy: At the extremes, some patients worry daily about their health, even if they are asymptomatic. Patients want to be reassured there is nothing wrong with their exam or testing. Other patients care little, and seem to have a cavalier attitude, despite a concerning exam or test. Both types of patients and those in between, benefit mentally and physically knowing their exam and tests are normal. It allows them to focus on their families, work, recreation, or whatever is important to them. Being consumed with unfounded medical fear is never conducive to good mental or physical health.
Q: Why is proactive health care so important?
Dr. Murphy: In my 38 years of seeing patients, I have encountered many who would have been cured of their disease or cancer if they had come in for regular exams. Taking a thorough history and physical helps guide a physician to testing that may be needed. Many chronic diseases can be managed very well if the patient is seen regularly. If not, the disease usually progresses, and the patient has to be admitted to the hospital as their medical condition becomes unstable.
A physician who knows their patients well also knows when something is amiss psychologically. It may not be communicated verbally, but their body language or demeanor gives it away. This is a perfect time to intervene and give advice, medication, or referral to another physician, if needed, to address an issue before it worsens.
When a patient and their doctor work together, it can lead to a lifetime of better health. Helping my patients achieve good physical and mental health is why I became a physician.
