Our “Physician Voices” series empowers doctors to share their unique stories, expert perspectives, and helpful insights. In this Q&A, Dr. Fisher-Wikoff explores the diverse physician landscape, the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship, the value of physician leadership, and more.
The best people to understand our own hopes, fears, and realities are doctors ourselves. Therefore, change must begin with us.
The Quadruple Aim seeks to enhance the patient experience, lower costs, improve population health, and promote provider well-being. Which component most excites you and where would you say healthcare falls short?
I am most excited by the patient experience. As a primary care physician, I consider it an honor and privilege to not only treat my patients medically but also to provide the highest-quality service. I’ve dealt with my own health issues, and these experiences showed me the importance of building great relationships. It’s essential that we nurture these relationships every step of the way, from scheduling the appointment to leaving the office. Healthcare continues to find new ways to create a more positive experience for patients, whether through population health initiatives that engage patients or technologies that ease scheduling and improve access.
[Hear two healthcare thought leaders discuss how the Quadruple Aim and value-based care intersect!]
However, healthcare still has room for growth when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In terms of population health and health equity, healthcare leadership is not representative of our country’s diverse demographics. Fortunately, the number of female, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ physicians is starting to reflect the general population, and I believe that elevating them to the leadership level would further improve healthcare for everyone.
How can elevating physicians’ perspectives improve policy and patient care?
Organizations need to bring the physicians to the table for dialogue to help administrations, insurance companies, community leaders, politicians, and others realize the needs of both physician practices and patients. Doctors often do not feel like their voices are heard on important topics like administrative burdens, prior authorizations, human resources issues, and even political limitations on medical practices in the face of evidence-based guidelines. Organizations should allow physicians to lead the charge in solving the challenges and pitfalls of healthcare to help manage patients. We know what needs to be done.
How can physician leadership, advocacy, and governance empower doctors to transform healthcare?
Since healthcare starts in the exam room with the conversation between the physician and the patient, the transformation of healthcare has to start with the sacred bond that is the doctor-patient relationship. As physicians, we understand our patients’ hopes, fears, and the inevitable realities of mortality. The best people to understand our own hopes, fears, and realities are doctors ourselves. Therefore, change must begin with us. That’s why I am proud to partner with a physician-led organization that truly recognizes what doctors need to help us provide the best care for our patients.
What tools and support have you found most helpful in your daily work?
For me, as a female physician (especially a Black female physician), my first arm of support came from great mentors. When trying to run a medical practice, female physicians encounter unique challenges around negotiating contracts, navigating gender pay gaps, or dealing with strained office personalities. I have been fortunate enough to have amazing female physician leaders who run successful independent practices teach me the basics of day-to-day operations. Now, after nine years of independent practice, I feel confident every day when I walk into the office for my team’s morning huddle. Someday, I hope to pay it forward and share everything I’ve learned about independent practice with new female physicians.
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