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Healthcare viewed from the perspective of applied behavioral science
 
 

TWO WOLVES

One evening an old Cherokee Indian told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, ‘My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all- one is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.’

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: ‘Which wolf wins?’

The old Cherokee simply replied, ‘The one you feed.’

Join me in exploring how we, the medical community, are caring for one another. Are we cultivating teams of problem solvers? Is our social structure equipped for managing the complexity and constant change of the system we operate within? Which wolf does the healthcare system feed?

 
 
 
 
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“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”

Socrates

 
 
 

Welcome to The Wolf You Feed. This is an exploration of why both patients and care providers are feeling like neither are getting what they need from the current healthcare system. My framework is looking at this topic through the lens of behavioral science.

Social Psychology is a study of how the social and physical environment impacts human behavior, thoughts and emotions. Although the science we focus on in healthcare tends to be the “hard” sciences, I think that we can find answers to some of the hurts and mismatches present within the healthcare system by examining wisdom of the more “soft” behavioral sciences.

This discussion is from my perspective, a healthcare provider’s perspective. The changes I propose could lessen the institutional burnout that many working within healthcare systems are suffering, but my goal is not only to make the providers more comfortable. I believe that a system that supports and respects its care providers will cultivate a culture where patient respect and dignity is honored. The well being of our care teams is inextricably linked to compassion for and well being of patients.

 
 
 

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We need to ask ourselves what we would like from our healthcare system and those that work within it.  We need to consider what a diet of violence and disrespect does to the two wolves within those that work in healthcare. If we want “joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”, we must have safety first.

 
 
 
 

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