It is a bit of an unusual paradox working as a privately funded health care practitioner in a publicly funded health care system. I had the privilege of growing up in Canada, where you are taught that health care is a free and universally accessible commodity (though you eventually learn the nuances of ‘free’ and ‘universally accessible’ are not exactly true to term). In general taxes are prioritized to treat the health of Canadians. However, the way our health care model is implemented, there is little funding allocated to rehabilitation, making many practices in my health vocation of physiotherapy fee for service. This is true for many allied health care practices, and the result is turning health into a business.

This presents a dilemma to a Canadian health care provider, as we are not innately accustomed to interconnecting health care and business. You have to develop a new model of health care, and through this, learn how to provide quality care as a purchased commodity. It is a change in mindset, and it can be challenging to provide the most appropriate care independent of your bottom line. As I worked in and through this paradox, I learned invaluable lessons about myself, health care, and essential qualities to becoming a trusted private health care practitioner in a public health care system. 

9 Lessons for a Private Health Care Practitioner 

1. Start with why.  As brilliantly put in Simon Sinek’s book “Start with Why,” it is good practice to create a why statement - that is, why you became a health care practitioner in the first place. There is something that drove you to this career, and it wasn’t likely the business of it. Establish your ‘why’. Write it down. Revisit it. Your ‘why’ is your north star. It guides you through adversity, and advances you forward in your career. Losing this direction cannot only effect your career choices, it can be detrimental to your quality of care. Establish your purpose, become familiar with it, and then move forward. 

 2. Find a mentor. The majority of the knowledge, clinical patterns, and critical decision making used in your career are not learned in the classroom. You learn them with practical experiences, and post-secondary training, and should not be left to chance. The evidence-based medicine model is one third professional opinion. In my professional opinion, this is best driven from the many great minds that have come before us. Read books, embrace lifelong learning, and align yourself with excellent mentors.

 3. You do you. I would argue you can’t give compassionate care if you aren’t authentic, and you won’t be authentic if you aren’t being true to yourself and your values. Get to know yourself, your beliefs, your strengths, and your weaknesses. This doesn’t mean imposing those beliefs on others, but being confident in who you are. You can do this and still maintain a professional presentation. You want to be both authentic and trustworthy. Be confident in yourself, your abilities, and knowing your limitations.

 4. Remember you are dealing with vulnerable people. As a health care provider, every patient you meet is consulting you in a vulnerable state. It takes courage to admit you are struggling, and even more to approach someone for help, especially a stranger. Be compassionate. Listen to your patients. Give them the space they need to share their story without interruption. 

 5. Preserver through adversity. Health is a major factor in quality of life. Bad news and frustrations with failing health can be easily misdirected or internalized, making for some difficult days. Don’t allow these dark moments to derail your practice. Revisit your ‘why’ statement. Adversity is often the source of our greatest growth. Reflect on it.  It improves your ability to react favourably to difficult situations, and their various accompanying difficult emotional states.

 6. Don’t be greedy. It’s surprisingly challenging to keep care decisions separate from personal gain. Resist the urge to make decisions because they have secondary gain to your own schedule or pocket book including scheduling, prescriptions, and care pathways. Consider this: would you make the same decision if the benefit you received from that decision was completely absent? You never want to be in a situation where this can be questioned. Hold yourself to the highest standard when deciding on appropriate care. Both you and your patients will be better off for it.

 7. Give back to your community.  This is an important concept for everyone, not just health care providers. You need to volunteer. Communities don’t function well without everyone giving a little to help. Donate time to your local community events, coach a team, sit on a board, or mentor a colleague. These generous allocations of resources ensure the prosperity and betterment of your community.

8. Respect the environment. As the mounting environmental concerns become more visible, it is impossible to ignore the link between healthy ecosystems and the health of human populations. Air quality, exposure to toxic chemicals, access to fresh water and sanitation are a few major examples that link climate change to health. This is a global problem, one that can only be solved through a global effort. For the sake of your health, the health of your community, and that of the planet, do your part to help the environment.

9. Practice self care. You cannot be at your best for your family and your patients if you don’t prioritize your own health. Drink water, eat vegetables, and exercise. Sleep well and consistently. Prioritize time each week to do something you love. Self care is not easy, it takes time, effort, and persistence. However, basic self care practices become the foundation to living long, living well, and enjoying your life. Internalize these practices and demonstrate their importance. Value your health as much as that of your patients.

In the end, it doesn’t matter what stage of your career, or what discipline of health care you practice. Incorporate these lessons to improve the overall health experience for yourself and your patients.

Take care. 

Amy