Day 28

"Like politics, all medicine is local. Medicine requires the successful function of systems - of people and of technologies. Among our most profound difficulties is making them work together. If I want to give my patients the best care possible, not only must I do a good job, but a whole collection of diverse components must somehow mesh effectively" - Atul Gawande

Healthcare represents a culmination of efforts from physicians, nurses, administrators, and an entire team of dedicated people that provide a certain quality of care. A system is made up of parts that work together, and the healthcare system is no different. Atul Gawande has been able to illustrate how healthcare functions optimally through precise and descriptive examples. Providing the best quality of care to patients cannot be accomplished alone; it is a group effort. What Gawande later explains in his speech to the Stanford University School of Medicine's graduating class is that the world of medicine is vast and thus it is impossible to know everything about it. Employing the help of other experts in the field allows us to provide truly patient-centered care. We are moving toward accountable care organizations, and this is just another example of that.

From a happiness perspective, I find it fascinating to be able to solve problems. Working with other people gives us a sense of belonging and camaraderie and allows us to face challenges more easily.