Sometimes a small gesture goes a long way. Doctors in Temple play many functions big and small, all of which are geared to maintaining and restoring of health or prevention of illness. They treat patients to restore them to their normal state as much as possible or, if not, improve their condition. They also serve a role in helping patients prevent certain disease conditions from developing. Patients may come in the form of individuals or groups such as families and communities; and physicians offer their service to all of them.
One of the so-called small functions of Temple doctors yet deliver important outcomes is patient or health education. This is a teaching role medical professionals play in the process of educating the patient in matters by which they may maintain, improve, or restore their health state. Because knowledge is power, if people are made to know measures of ensuring their well-being, then they will be able to initiate specific steps of achieving such.
With the many diseases present, the patient and even the public have to know what measures to initiate to keep their health in tip-top shape. This duty extends to the usual responsibility of the doctors. Although, health education may sound very simple, it is actually one of the neglected duties of physicians. A point in case is when a patient leaves the medical facility with the prescribed medications and an instruction sheet and reaches home only to find out that he or she does not understand the instructions listed or, worse, cannot read the handwriting. This is no joke as many patients have been discovered during their follow-up check up of not properly taking the medication, and this boils down to the fault of medical professionals. And there is the matter of the follow-up check up, which the doctors sometime fails to inform the patient. These are just simple scenarios but would have great impact on the quality of health care received if done correctly.
Moreover, medical professionals should always see to it that in every operation done or treatment prescribed, the patient understands what the operation entails, what are the advantages and disadvantages, as well as the options available. When the patient understands such information, he or she is in a best position to make a good decision. This is the so-called informed choice.
In matters concerning well-being, Temple doctors also have the obligation to share their knowledge to patients and the public. The value of health education has been greatly appreciated in this times where people have become health-conscious because of the numerous diseases present especially those caused by unhealthy lifestyle and in this time of economic crisis where health is very costly. In the simple gesture of sharing their knowledge such as preventing colds or healthy and cheap food sources of vitamins, the public can make sound decision on how to life healthily.
Health education is thus the power given by physicians to the people on the maintenance of well-being. It is an indispensable tool in these changing times. Doctors should extend their responsibility in the care of patients even outside the confines of a medical facility.