As I was sitting in my doctor’s office recently, a thought crossed my mind: Marcus Welby, M.D., where did you go? For those of you who aren’t familiar with the good doctor, Marcus Welby was the main character in a television medical drama that ran from 1969 to 1976. He was known for his tireless devotion to his patients, kindly bedside manner and unparalleled skill to cure and counsel the sick.

It seems he also had the ability to conjure up extra hours in the day to spend an extraordinary amount of time with his patients. I guess the magic of television is that it doesn’t always have to mirror reality. Still, it occurs to me that, prior to the demands that have been imposed by legislation, managed healthcare and rising costs, doctors really did have more time to spend with patients.

A friend of mine was recently released from the hospital after spending three days there for treatment of pneumonia. She described her experience in the hospital. Various people would enter her room to administer medications, check her vital signs, and even transport her for x-rays. Often they wore no name badges and did not identify themselves. She had no idea who was actually considered to be her caregiver. Throughout her three day visit, she saw her doctor just one time.

Unfortunately her experience is rather typical.

The state of healthcare in the U.S. may cause you to wonder just who is your primary healthcare provider. Technicians, nurses, and even medical students are often the ones taking your vital information and reporting their findings to your doctor. Do you remember the childhood game “whisper down the lane”? It was always funny to hear how a message whispered down a line of people changed completely by the time it reached the end. In this context, it’s frightening to think that the person chiefly responsible for making decisions about your healthcare – your doctor – is the last person on the message chain.

As patients, we cannot be passive. We need to take responsibility for our own healthcare and we need to serve as our own advocate.

• Communicate carefully with your doctor, and take a role in making decisions about your care
• Ask questions – lots of questions – until you understand the answers
• Educate yourself about your diagnosis, medical tests and treatment plan

Doctors today simply can’t give their patients the same face time as the Dr. Welby archetype, and even the best physicians can’t diagnose and cure us in just an hour’s time (minus commercials). But if we take an active role in our own diagnosis and treatment, we can create a true partnership with our doctors, and get the most from their knowledge and skills.

Be your own advocate. I believe you’re worth it.

Sincerely,



Dorrit J. Bern