I recently read the two articles written by Janice Lynn Crose regarding her experiences with local medical professionals.
I have empathy for the situation she outlines, as I am sure it is tremendously stressful. The cost of medical care, making of appointments, and communication with care providers and insurance can be very frustrating.
But, as always, there is a different perspective to be considered.
As the wife of a family medicine physician, I can tell you that general practitioners and family medical docs most often do what they do because they love people, feel great compassion when others are ill or injured, and genuinely desire to help.
They often choose the patient over their family, and we their spouses and children also often choose the patient over our family and our needs. We have to do so, as our spouses don't just have a job, they have a sacred vocation to help heal.
And, here is the part many people never see: many physicians and their families make these sacrifices gladly, because they care.
'SO PROUD OF HIM'
My husband was unable to be reached when my daughter was in the ER, because he was lovingly tending to other people's children.
He missed an entire weekend with his family on more than one occasion, because a long-term patient was ready to deliver. Another doc could cover for him, but he would never let a patient who trusted him be without him in their time of need.
When I have severe asthma episodes, it is me who he must tell "I have to go; I cannot stay and help you."
And, I tell him to go, I will be fine, and I am so proud of him.
He missed our initial obstetrician appointment when I found out we miscarried our second baby, because a doctor can't just take off; people depend on them.
On a typical day, the kids may see him for an hour before bed; this often includes weekends. Often, they will not see him for a string of days. His last appointment is at 4 p.m., but he takes the time to answer all his messages from patients at the end of every day.
There are more messages than people realize each day.
I am proud of him for the work he does and the way he does it.
'WE JUST DON'T KNOW'
He is not alone — this is the way many doctors live their vocation: with compassion and care.
Some things simply cannot be diagnosed over the phone, or even managed over the phone, in the case of a standing diagnosis.
There may be a day when your doctor truly cannot pack one more appointment in. To do so, to over-schedule, would have a negative impact on all their patients.
It is also the case that antibiotics should rarely, if ever, be prescribed based on a phone consult.
Finally, it is the case that you ought to seek emergency attention if your illness is potentially life threatening.
I have no idea what the receptionist's tone was (for Crose) — it may have been short. I do know that my husband has come home many times and said something to the tune of, "A patient got very upset with me today. I just wish he knew that I am doing all that I can do. I wish I could do more, but I just can't."
I think it is important to realize that there is a person coming home in the evening, feeling truly saddened that a patient wasn't fully satisfied with their care, even though the physician gave it their all.
It is also important to realize that docs have more than one patient. They absolutely have to prioritize.
In this case, no one knows what the physician's day held — maybe a birth, a heart attack, or an extended appointment to consult a newly diagnosed terminal patient took precedent over a skin infection.
From the outside looking in, we just don't know.
SAYING 'THANK YOU'
As human beings, it is in our nature to be self-preservers, so all we hear is, "The doctor cannot help you with that."
When we hear that information conveyed, it is too easy to get angry and assume the physician is lazy, unkind or cold hearted.
Every time my daughters see a firefighter, police officer, librarian or any other community servant, they say thank you.
Their father works days and nights, seven days a week, to treat illness, save lives, offer consolation and provide compassionate care to his patients.
It would be nice for them if some people recognized his sacrifices and saw that most physicians really do care.
Even total self-giving care cannot make every patient happy, but that doesn't stop physicians from doing their best every day.
I certainly appreciate all doctors, nurses, PAs, medical assistants and techs. Their tireless work to care for others deserves our gratitude and praise.
Amy Saurey is the wife of a Crestview physician.
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Consider medical doctors' sacrifice — a wife's perspective