In the year 2019 BC* (*Before Covid), society was trundling along, generally business as usual. Then suddenly, we had a lurching shift demanding that everything we once knew now had to be done remotely. Our businesses went online, schooling went into Google class mode, and we attended meetings via Zoom in a business shirt with pyjamas and slippers hidden out of camera view. These Zoom meetings were frequently interrupted by children’s tantrums, a flatmate asking who drank the last of the milk, or a spouse crawling behind the screen to retrieve something from the other half of the house.
In healthcare we suddenly had to shift to Telehealth, typically done over a secure video-based platform. During this time, I began to appreciate a core role for all healthcare professionals – education. Health professionals start by asking questions about how the injury occurred, a description of symptoms, and how different movements or activities affected them. This detailed period of questioning is followed by a series of tests, essentially attempting to provoke symptoms. In short, this is the diagnostic process.
Time is then spent explaining the diagnosis, the patterns, healing timelines, the consequences of the injury on the person’s daily life, and much more. Over those two years when Telehealth was our modus operandi, this became even more important as hands-on care wasn’t possible. The education then extended into advice about which exercises would be needed to aid recovery. How often should the exercises be done? What would be expected if the exercise is tolerated well, or not? How do you know if things are improving? What should you do if symptoms start to get worse?
Education was, is, and will always remain one of the core tenets of healthcare. This is because knowledge is empowering. The human condition does not tolerate uncertainty, a palpably noticeable fact seen during each lockdown. As it happened, I discovered that uncertainty met its limit for most during every lockdown. Between 3 and 4 weeks of isolation, every client we met over Telehealth suddenly regressed. I’m convinced this was humanity’s uncertainty threshold being met, manifested in a worsening of their injury.
That aside, healthcare professionals have a responsibility to convey knowledge meaningfully. There is an art to distilling a complex, medical diagnosis into simple language that even a young child can understand. This magic power is a necessity for educators across all sectors. One of my most memorable high school teachers was able to do just that, and my results shone. In comparison one of my less effective teachers struggled to understand how I didn’t “get it”, despite being very intelligent himself. You see to be an effective educator, intellect is not all that is required. What is most important is the ability to connect with people. That – is where the magic happens.
Nb. Written as Health columnist for the Hibiscus Matters.
