Thanks to Rick B.
Ed note: I don’t doubt that patients have a much better experience with an altruistic medical provider who offers listening, time and doesn’t feel economic pressure as they advocate for your care. The practical problem–how can we find such a practitioner in these times of shortage and corporate takeover of our health care? Not everyone can afford a concierge physician (who provides the kind of care that used to be standard). There is no clear answer at present.
Key takeaways:
- Patients of altruistic physicians had improved odds for several health outcomes.
- Practices and policymakers should consider incentives and cultures that improve altruism, the researchers said.
Physician altruism corresponded with more positive patient outcomes, such as lower spending and a reduced risk for hospital admission, a study published in JAMA Health Forum showed.
Lawrence P. Casalino, MD, PhD, MPH, the Livingston Farrand Professor in the department of health care policy and research at Weill Cornell Medical College told Healio that physician professionalism and altruism in health care — defined as putting the patient first — is important for several reasons “but has not been measured in practicing physicians, and there is no research linking professionalism with outcomes.”
