Hi. I’m Victoria Wilcox, and I started this blog against my better judgment. So many health-care blogs already exist that I asked myself whether anyone needs another. Even so, I believe that this blog adds a unique and useful perspective because:
- White Coats, Paper Gowns focuses on the psychology of health care. That may sound touchy-feely, but many of the most crucial problems in medicine today involve human behavior. They include doctors and patients miscommunicating, patients suffering from medical mistakes, health-care workers rushing through patient visits, and patients continuing unhealthy habits. This blog will not only tackle these and other problems, it will weigh in on proposed solutions such as patient-centered care and shared decision-making.
- Although many bloggers explore these issues already, relatively few do so with a scientist’s eye. With patients’ lives at stake, we need a solid evidence base for improving health care and, ultimately, patients’ health. That’s why I scout for research that yields insights into patients and health-care workers. I draw on my research training and experience to separate the good studies from the bad. Whenever I can, I’ll put the findings into context to clarify what they mean for patients and health care.
- I want this site to be a gathering place where people of different backgrounds can respectfully discuss their views and, perhaps, understand each other better. Whether you’re a patient, health-care worker, researcher, hospital executive, or just someone interested in health care, welcome to White Coats, Paper Gowns. If you feel moved by what you read here, I invite you to leave a comment.