Balancing Care and Self-Care: The Challenge of Medical Professionals

Being a doctor is like being a superhero for sick people. They work hard to make others feel better and save lives. But being a doctor is not easy.

They have a tough choice to make – should they focus on taking care of others or take care of themselves too? It’s like having to decide between two important things and not knowing which one to choose.

Let’s find out more about this tough decision that doctors have to make through a few FAQ’s!

1) What are the challenges faced by doctors in maintaining their health while caring for others?

The medical profession poses significant challenges including long and unpredictable working hours, along with the constant pressure to consistently deliver optimal outcomes.

As a result, doctors often find it difficult to maintain a regular lifestyle, including aspects such as diet, exercise, and sleep patterns. Emergency situations can arise at any time, disrupting their routine and adding to the already stressful nature of their work. 

Healthcare providers are constantly exposed to the suffering and pain of patients and failure to save lives, and they also witness the trauma of families. Irrespective of being professionally trained to handle such eventualities, it is impossible for their human side to remain unaffected. This results in adverse health effects and high-stress levels among doctors.

Another major stress factor is the risk of contamination. Hospitals are the hotspots of infections. In the peak pandemic times, India lost many doctors despite all the precautionary measures. 

Evidently, there is no 100% foolproof freedom from such risks, and that also causes a lot of stress for doctors as they are worried about not only their own health but also about passing on any infections to their loved ones.

This stress combined with the prevalent self-neglect due to the long, and exhausting nature of work, makes a significant dent in the physical and mental wellness of doctors.

In a study conducted by Fitterfly in 2021 involving 1,100 doctors, it was revealed that 60% of them had a BMI over 23, with 30% falling into the overweight category with a BMI exceeding 25. Additionally, 20% of the doctors were found to have diabetes.

These findings highlight the urgent need for an adequate support system and procedural changes that can help doctors achieve a better work-life balance, allowing them to prioritize their physical and mental well-being.

2) As a doctor with constant exposure to diseases, stress, and physical ailments, how crucial is it to promote a healthier work environment for doctors, which will ultimately improve patient care?

Creating a work environment that promotes better work-life balance for doctors is of utmost importance. It is important to ensure that doctors can meet their nutritional, exercise, and sleep needs.

The prolonged working hours can lead to fatigue and increase the risk of diseases such as diabetes and heart ailments. Unfortunately, we frequently hear about doctors between the ages of 25 and 50 losing their lives to heart attacks, while many others experience heart issues like palpitations.

There have been instances where doctors have physically and emotionally broken down after working consecutive 15-18-hour shifts. These incidents are becoming more prevalent in the post-pandemic era, as doctors face heightened stress levels.

Since stress is often considered an integral part of the profession, doctors tend to neglect warning signs and their own nutritional and wellness needs. It is not uncommon to see them on late-night duties resorting to quick, unhealthy food options like noodles, biscuits, and sandwiches, while consuming excessive amounts of caffeine and sugary beverages due to the lack of nutritious alternatives in hospital canteens.

India’s population is aging, and the country faces one of the highest disease burdens globally. If caregivers themselves are not physically and mentally fit, it becomes even more challenging for them to provide the level of universal healthcare services expected of them. 

However, once there is a desired transformation of the work environment, a framework to ensure good physical and mental health, and a positive work experience for doctors, it will benefit the entire society.

Doctors will be able to focus better and put in additional effort and attention to decision making which will enhance the quality of patient care and build trust between doctors and their patients.

3) What are your thoughts on the role of technology in transforming healthcare and providing innovative solutions for doctors’ & patients’ health and wellness?

Technology has always played a crucial role in empowering doctors. In today’s digital age, harnessing cutting-edge technology and automation is essential to enhance the effectiveness of the healthcare ecosystem and reduce stress for doctors.

The advent of AI automation and remote monitoring tools, such as wearable bands for tracking vital signs and continuous glucose monitors, has simplified, and expedited the monitoring of both patients and doctors.

Utilizing such technologies, along with processes like Digital Therapeutics and telehealth, enables the treatment and monitoring of a larger number of patients with improved convenience and effectiveness.

For example, individuals with diabetes can be effectively monitored at an individual level, receiving digital prescriptions for nutrition, exercise, medication, lifestyle improvements, and daily routines through AI and data analytics-powered platforms like Fitterfly.

The newly launched Fitterfly X Labs is a pathbreaking shift in chronic disease management, and we are leveraging AI-powered chatbots, and personalized data analysis to redefine areas such as patient care, and enabling superior health outcomes.

It reiterates Fitterfly’s commitment to innovation in the healthcare arena. With algorithmic insights and virtual biomarkers, evaluated in light of evidence-based medicine, the platform reimagines the care continuum. 

While we have already been providing such innovation and human support to users since 2016, X Labs will bring about unprecedented enhancements to the process. As a part of the revised X Labs services, AI will start handling progress monitoring, set reminders, answer common queries, and provide routine information, while human coaches will focus on in-depth personalized care. 

This combination of human expertise with advanced AI technologies will surpass the quality, consistency, and speed of service that even Fitterfly had offered initially.

Apart from this, there is tremendous potential for automation in healthcare delivery. Automation can alleviate doctors’ repetitive and complex tasks. Electronic Health Records eliminate the burden of paper-based processes that are currently prevalent, reducing the workload on doctors. 

Technology offers numerous value additions to medical professionals, enriching their work-life experiences in various ways. Overall, embracing advanced technology and automation is vital in creating a healthcare environment that empowers doctors, improves patient care, and enhances the overall work-life experiences of medical professionals.

4) What are the strategies and initiatives that you think one can implement to support doctors’ mental and physical well-being!

Doctors require a comprehensive, flexible, and accurate digitally-driven support system to address their healthcare needs. The nature of their profession makes it challenging for them to adhere to specific schedules for workouts, nutrition, and sleep. In this context, the implementation of Digital Therapeutics (DTx) becomes invaluable. 

DTx involves continuous monitoring of vital health parameters such as blood glucose, oxygen levels, heart rate, pulse, and temperature through smart wristbands and Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs). By monitoring food and beverage intake and assessing their impact on the body, a personalized health management program can be developed for doctors. 

These holistic programmes consider potential causes of conditions like diabetes, such as stress, lack of exercise, high sugar intake, inadequate nutrition, and poor sleep patterns. Implementing strategic interventions to address each cause, in addition to appropriate medication for blood glucose regulation, can lead to improved mental and physical well-being for doctors.

Despite their qualifications and experience in healthcare, doctors often underestimate the positive impact that a professional coach can have on their health. Beyond the guidance coaches provide, their presence and constant monitoring bring a level of accountability that is often lacking in self-monitoring efforts. 

Furthermore, it is crucial to establish better backup arrangements and break times for doctors, ensuring there is adequate support available to handle emergency situations when one team of doctors is off duty.

Adopting such an approach would enhance the quality of doctors’ lives and significantly improve their capacity to cope with the demands of the medical profession.

5) Tell us more about Fitterfly. And how is it different from other diabetes programs?

Fitterfly is a unique DTx platform specifically designed for comprehensive diabetes management. Unlike traditional diabetes therapies that solely focus on food habits, Fitterfly started by conducting research on measuring blood sugar responses to tens of thousands of food items consumed by people in India.

This exhaustive research led to an advanced personalized glycemic response engine for the users. The patented Fitterfly platform covers all aspects of holistic diabetes management, such as stress assessment, sleep quality management, fitness assessment, and creation of personalized exercise plans, and nutrition plans.

Since it is a mass usage platform, it has been developed as a cloud-powered solution that can be seamlessly scaled for users on Android as well as iOS platforms.

The differentiator for Fitterfly is that it goes beyond building a tech stack to manage diabetes, obesity, and heart problems, and emphasizes on bringing about behavioural changes.

By going beyond the prescriptions, and focusing on cultivating healthier habits through expert supervision, and empathetic guidance by experts such as doctors, psychologists, nutritionists, and physiotherapists.

Fitterfly has managed to achieve more than a 95% success rate. The research and effectiveness of Fitterfly’s services have received global attention and the company has presented papers at various global events.

Fitterfly’s aim is to spread awareness and bring multiple stakeholders including the central and state governments, corporates, insurance companies and IRDAI, and others to build a holistic ecosystem. 

We also aim to drive awareness about the adverse effects of diseases such as diabetes especially on the loss of economic opportunities for the affected persons and their employers alike. The platform has already achieved outcomes such as 20% to 30% reduction in glucose levels of people subscribing to Fitterfly within 3 months of programme enrolment.

The findings have been published in platforms such as the European Conference on Endocrinology and Advanced Treatments and Technologies in Diabetes. 

Further, our programme has also enabled people to achieve weight loss ranging from 5 kg to 10 kg in three months and fat percentage by 60%. There is an average 50% to 70% improvement in quality of life, fitness, and mobility as experienced by Fitterfly users.

We are now aiming to expand DTx coverage for health conditions such as diabetes, PCOS, obesity, and heart diseases, and contribute to reducing India’s disease burden through scalable deployment of technologies. 

6) What would you like to highlight this National Doctor’s Day?

We are in a digital-first era of healthcare where technology is going to be the key enabler of expanding coverage horizons, innovating new therapies, and delivering superior outcomes. With a massive rise in disease burdens caused by unhealthy lifestyles, the need for doctors is greater than ever, and that is where the prevalence of diabetes, stress, or other health issues among doctors is a disservice to own well-being, and detrimental to carrying out the duties entrusted in the medical community. 

To address the challenge, and to overcome the limitations, it is time that doctors start ‘charity at home’ and focus on their own physical and mental wellness more effectively. Digital technologies and platforms such as Fitterfly are already available for them, and they can leverage such support to improve their work-life balance, all-around health, and ability to deliver great healthcare services in the years ahead!

Takeaways

1. Being a doctor is like a superhero’s role, but choosing between self-care and patient care is a tough decision.
2. Demanding schedules, unpredictable hours, and emergencies disrupt doctors’ lifestyles, impacting their mental and physical health.
3. Contamination risks in hospitals, neglecting self-care due to workload, and unhealthy habits contribute to stress and health issues among doctors.
4. Creating a balanced work environment is crucial; extended hours and stress can lead to severe health problems.
5. Technology, especially AI, enhances healthcare by aiding tasks and remote monitoring. Digital therapeutics like Fitterfly personalized health management.
6. Doctors require flexible support, like Digital Therapeutics, to improve their health. Coaching and backup plans are vital.

In the digital era, doctors must prioritize their own well-being using tools like Fitterfly. Tech can enhance their work-life balance and healthcare delivery.

Remember, the path to balancing professional care and self care doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With digital therapeutics, smart solutions are at hand, and a brighter, healthier life is within reach.

So, let’s journey together towards a healthier, more empowered future. Explore the possibilities offered by Fitterfly’s Diabetes Care Program and Fitterfly’s Weight Loss, a comprehensive guide crafted by expert diabetologists.

Sign up now to unlock a world of better diabetes management. To learn more or have a conversation, just give us a missed call at 08069450746, and we will definitely get back to you.

Let’s appreciate the superheroes in white coats who face this challenge every day and thank them for taking care of us!