Health “Care”?

I’m writing to you with brand new knees (only six weeks old). Every time I go through a minor or major health event, I learn something new. These knew knees gave me a lot to work with regarding new experiences with health care, but today I’ll focus on just one. Here’s what I learned about health “care” while getting my new knees.

Health care has the word care in it, but not the feel-good kind of care. I have always mistakenly assumed care meant something akin to being thoughtful and helpful, and kind while providing physical care. Well, that’s not quite what I experienced. So it made me wonder: What is care? One definition I found says care is the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something. Another definition is to look after or provide for the needs of someone or something. I didn’t see anything in those definitions about affection. So, I have just realized that I need to change my expectations to not expect a warm-fuzzy type of care from my health care provider, but instead, be content with the providing of service to produce the necessary results - new knees.

Orthopedic surgeons are very good at being orthopedic surgeons. I am grateful for my surgeon and my new knees. But I went through some times when I felt neglected, talked down to, and even disregarded during my “care.” But my Physical Therapists were the epitome of the best of care - helpful, kind, and encouraging during effective and timely therapy (good physical care). In my experience, it’s more often those that provide ancillary (support) care or complementary care who give the two types of care than those providing medical services. If I’m honest, I want both the feel-good kind of care and plain-old health care. Our health care system rarely provides both. So your options are that you can learn to not expect a full-dimensional type of care and just be content with a mechanical type of care, or find a health care provider that offers both (easier said than done). Managing expectations might help you avoid disappointment in your overall care experience.