A heavy conversation with my wife

Episode 9 of the Healthcare Beans podcast

Without realizing it, I played an important role in my wife’s health journey. But first, a bit of context..

I often find that healthcare professionals pay little regard to individuals’ capacity for willpower or grit. The prevailing viewpoint is that poor health outcomes are caused by systemic problems like waste, greed, and failed policy. Period. There is no doubt that healthcare delivery in the United States is poorly designed, and must be corrected through policy changes. But without holding patients accountable for their own health outcomes, we cannot help people live the best version of themselves. And until we do that, I fear a great deal of time and money will be spent on healthcare solutions that barely work.

Episode takeaways:

(1) I share a story about my wife’s health journey, as an example of how family and friends can be excellent constructive critics who propel us toward better living.

(2) There are countless success stories about people who dropped unhealthy habits and started living a better life. These stories should form the foundation of how health systems engage patients.

(3) Resilience research can serve as a framework for healthcare professionals to better support patient accountability and help people live the best version of themselves through a combination of (1) grit and (2) a practical method of self-improvement.

Godspeed!

~ James