The chief business and medical affairs officer of the Philippine-based online healthcare aggregator app discusses the importance of empathy in impacting one's productivity and success at work
Having the brains and perseverance doesn’t always enable one to succeed in the healthcare industry. Although they are important qualities, having a heart is also essential.
“There is a misconception that in a technical world, expertise and strength are the only things you need to succeed; and that there is no room to be kind,” says Chelsea Elizabeth Samson, the chief business and medical affairs officer of KonsultaMD, a Philippine-based healthcare aggregator app that offers online consultations, medicine delivery and clinic and diagnostic booking. “On the contrary, while technical skills will get you through the door, soft skills are what will take you forward.
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“We get to practice kindness the most during difficult times,” she adds. And in these moments, she says that the best reminder to do so is to ground ourselves and think how we would want to be treated. “If we want people to treat us gently in our darkest moments, we should do the same for others.”
Recently recognised among the 50 Leading Lights of Asia Pacific honouring kindness in leadership, Samson says being kind in healthcare requires a genuine interest in the patient.
“Healthcare providers need to intentionally make the effort to step back and respect a patient’s feelings, needs and situation. While it is easier said than done, it is doable with time and practice,” she says.
Of course, being in healthcare often necessitates toeing a fine line between the professional and the personal. For this, Samson, who is a medical doctor herself, advises caregivers and providers to listen to their own emotions.
“By accepting and respecting the emotions that you feel while providing care, you can avoid and mitigate the stress and burden that leads to burnout. Knowing when to take space to ensure physical and emotional wellbeing is part of being kind to ourselves and ultimately, to our patients.”
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