Can Healthcare be transparent?

Transparency is the new “IT” word in healthcare.

Of course, it is. Patients want to know what’s going on. Especially in an era where they have access to so much information.

But transparency between doctor and patient doesn’t happen, not unless there’s first a high degree of transparency between the doctor and her team.

And the thing about a medical team is, they’re only human. They’re afraid of messing up. They’re afraid of being blamed. They’re afraid of their team not watching their back if something goes wrong. Especially in life or death situations.

We all want our medical teams to run like smoothly oiled machines. But the irony is, the best medical treatment isn’t possible unless the humanity at the center of it is allowed to exist.

Understanding this humanity is key to real transparency. That is the first step.

And it’s a huge step. One that can take years to master.

But that is where the real value lies, ultimately.

Advice to doctors: If you want to be more transparent with your patients, first start by working on building a culture of transparency internally with all stakeholders.