Register Now for the 2017 MedConference
About Us
The core of the medical profession—the relationship between patient and caregiver—is too often reduced to a mechanical process. The very nature of medical care is at risk, because the care of the patient is reduced to the cure of solely his or her physical being.
However, in front of sickness and death patients are confronted with critical questions, regardless of the outcome of their particular situation: Will I be healed? What is the meaning of this illness? Why is there pain and death? Equally critical questions are faced by medical professionals: Why is it worthwhile to be a doctor or a nurse today? What is at the heart of being a truly human health care professional? What is it that a patient ultimately asks of a caregiver?
The MedConference proposes that the specific mission of the medical profession includes 3 main objectives: to cure the patient or at least to attempt to prevent further development of the disease, to alleviate the associated painful symptoms, especially in the advanced stages of illness, and to attend to all the sick person’s needs and expectations.
The 2017 Theme
As medical professionals, we need ‘time.’ We need time to heal, accompany, and help our patients along the journey of diagnosis and care.
Our patients need ‘time’ too. They do not expect us to provide just a service. They seek a human relationship. They desire to ‘be accompanied’ on their journey.
On the other hand, we live and practice in a time when our administrators constantly underline the importance of being efficient and of managing costs and resources. We understand how important that is to our profession, and value all who help us to improve our efficiency. Yet, we feel that overemphasizing costs may make us forget or even betray our primary mission as health care professionals.
In the current health care system, is it possible to live the human dimension of our mission, while not neglecting efficiency?
Accreditation
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and the American Association of Medicine and the Person. The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science designates this live activity for a maximum of 8 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Define the importance of efficiency in health care
- Define the most important part of health care, which is the care of the patient and the relationship with the patient
- Explain how to balance the need of efficiency and cost-containment with the need of spending time with the patient