Abraham Verghese: A doctor's touch | Video on TED.com

This TED talk reminds me of the importance of thorough medical exams. Sometimes, simplicity goes a long way in the clinic. In my first few months of clinical, I am in awe of what our education can offer in terms of interpreting symptom details through the use of words, and physical exam. The collection of data becomes that much more important when we use these details to analyze through different modalities: Western pathology, Chinese medicine, homeopathy, or mind body medicine. It really is a work of art when you can paint a picture of a patient with a modality analysis.

Verghese brings up an interesting point - that his patient begins to calm down as he begins a physical exam. The room environment changes, as people pay attention to what happens to the body, and this is absolutely true. As the mind grows quiet, and lets go of other distractions. The attention is drawn to find meaning in a heartbeat, a breathsound, a texture, a color. This TEDtalk, for me, is a reminder that a physical exam needs not be percieved as another "MODCHE" at RSNC. But rather, somewhat of a ritualistic exchange between physician and patient, and something to hold highly as you remain acutely present in the chronicity of the doctor patient relationship.

http://www.ted.com/talks/abraham_verghese_a_doctor_s_touch.html