The Patient-Caregiver Relationship

Very early in my career, I worked on the manufacturing side of hearing health care. My positions at ReSound, Audiology Technical Support, and then in Product Management (PM) were very interesting and dynamic. The PM role was as a liaison between the different departments of the company, making sure that the products were firmly grounded in an audiological perspective. Both positions later paid dividends in my true calling, which is clinical work.

Sensorineural (nerve) hearing loss is an irreversible, chronic, and degenerative condition. This fact highlights the importance of fostering long-term therapeutic relationships with patients (and their families). This is honestly my absolute favorite part of my career.

I think the seed was planted by my childhood experience with my pediatrician, Dr. Robert E. Hannemann (OBM – whom I encourage you to look up). It was obvious from his steady, gentle care, his old-world bedside manner that he was passionate about what he was doing. I felt cared for. I’m old enough to remember health care before insurance changed everything. The concept of the ‘country doctor,’ the sense of duty and responsibility to/for patients and the community, speaks to me. It’s why I chose private practice, so I could care for my patients the way I feel they should be cared for, and dedicate the time needed to provide that level of care.

I just read a recently published study (“Beyond the classroom: a qualitative study of voluntary home visits to older adults as a tool for empathy and professional growth in medical students”) conducted in Jerusalem. It examined a 10-year Service-Learning Initiative, “where first-year medical students (throughout the academic year) visited elderly individuals at their homes to engage in light physical activities and discuss life challenges.” It gave them an opportunity to actually build relationships and engage with patients regarding their particular challenges, healthy lifestyle, and vulnerability they would not normally have in a typical clinical routine.

Without diving into the details of the study, they reported three major themes: “First, building trusting patient-physician relationships, characterized by empathy, trust, and effective communication, alongside a balance between physician responsibility and patient autonomy. Second, embracing uncertainty and holistic care, which involved navigating medical ambiguity and integrating psychosocial dimensions into clinical reasoning. Third, reflecting on vulnerability, aging, and mortality, encompassing the emotional impact of disability and decline; reframing aging positively; and processing experiences of death and loss. Participants described profound shifts in their perspectives on aging, care relationships, and their professional identities; changes that persisted throughout their pre-clinical training.”

While this study was essentially about helping physicians to better understand and care for the people under their care, the researchers found that it had a profound effect on the medical students. Students described building trust through attentive listening and just being present. Communicating with respect and sensitivity, particularly when it comes to autonomy. Dealing with the uncertainty and complexity of medical issues that may not have a “fix.” And understanding overall health in a broader context, including disability and social support structures.

I found this study to be very affirming of how we practice Audiology. There are direct parallels to the work we do and the challenges of our patients. Truly helping our patients depends on attentive listening, respecting their autonomy, addressing a medical condition that is complex and does not have a “fix,” and working with patients who have other medical conditions/issues and/or varying degrees of support.

The final affirmation relates to our partnership with the LifeLong Family Medicine Residency Program, where Residents come to our clinic to observe and learn about the importance of quality hearing healthcare, and how it relates to the patient’s overall health and wellbeing. It tells me we’re on the right track!

Please continue to show that you love your community by supporting our local businesses and remembering the humanity of those around you.