Art and Science: Where Are You On The Spectrum?

The science of medicine calculates risk and identifies the safest path forward for both doctor and patient. The art of medicine, by contrast, elevates individuality, finding beauty in life’s most precious exceptions.

—Uncaring, by Robert Pearl, MD

As medicine increasingly relies on performance reports and data benchmarking tools, many physicians feel increasingly stripped of their ability to exercise the profession’s oldest powers: intuition. This pull between the art and science of medicine is arguably at its most stressful crossroad today. While the metrics of science lead to the best, most reliable outcomes, medicine has long celebrated the physicians of great intuition — the art of medicine.

This devaluation of intuition, the freedom to find “life’s most precious exceptions,” has left many doctors feeling frustrated, devalued and even replaceable. This is only one of the myriad causes of “physician burnout,” but it is certainly a big one.

How does intuition still play into your practice? Was it ever important to your particular speciality? Is there still room for “precious exceptions” for you and your patients? How does this devaluation of the art of medicine contribute to your own form of pain? I’d love to learn about what makes you unique in your practice.

Learn more about me and how I help physicians like you find your own unique place in the vastly changing world of medicine. Click HERE to take a free needs assessment that will take you to my schedule for a FREE consultation.