Reflections on Modern Healthcare

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Reflections on Modern Health Care: The Balance of Mind-Body-Spirit Introduction Dr. Steven Hsi was a family practitioner from New Mexico that died at forty-four years of age from Takayasu arteritis. Closing the Chart is an account of his experiences as a patient, from the onset of symptoms to his death. He chronicled his life and effects of the disease, three cardiac surgeries, and numerous drug therapies. His wife, Beth Corbin-Hsi, with Jim Belshaw published Hsi’s personal experiences dealing with illness and death. In his writings Dr. Hsi urged his colleagues to become healers, and to look at their patients as human beings with spiritual as well as physical lives. Medical care is only one aspect of the healing continuum. Healing does not occur without a balanced mind, body, and spirit. Modern healthcare systems are driven by self-interest rather than the spirit of charity. Today’s healthcare systems are complex networks consisting of their member institutions, patients, families, professionals, payers, processes, communities, and businesses. Since patient care is still the focus of much of a healthcare systems activity the need to address personal, institutional, and communal issues should be a priority. Three Themes of Closing the Chart Family Illness severe enough to necessitate admission to a critical care unit can precipitate severe anxiety within a family system. Fear of death, uncertain outcome, emotional turmoil, financial concerns, role changes, disruption of routines, and unfamiliar hospital environments are a few sources of anxiety for family members (Leske, 2002). Anxiety interferes with the family’s ability to receive and comprehend information. “When Beth was allowed to see me about an hour after I was wheeled into recovery, it was as if someone had punched her − What have we done to you she thought” (Hsi, 2004, pp. 32-33).
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