A Well-Rounded Doctor: Dr. Lokapriya on Learning Beyond the Specialty (Part II)
Welcome to the second part of DocScopy interview with Dr. Lokapriya Manickam, hosted by Dr. Nirainila Joseph from MedBound Times. Having completed her BDS degree at Tamil Nadu Government Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India and MDS degree in Oral Medicine & Radiology at Vokkalingara Sangha Dental College and Hospital, Bangalore, India, Dr. Lokapriya also went to pursue an Executive MBA in Health care from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Calcutta, India.
In Part I, she explored the broad role of oral medicine specialists in patient well-being. In this segment, she talks about the importance of doctors gaining knowledge beyond medicine, including in sustainability, law and ethics, patient rights, and healthcare management, believing that such a comprehensive approach adds value to clinical practice.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: The practice of medicine is increasingly collaborative. Can you discuss about the knowledge from other medical specialties that help doctors to provide better care for a patient?
Dr. Lokapriya Manickam: General medicine, ENT, Dermatology and Pharmacology are very important for a better practice.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: Let’s talk about the importance of doctors learning beyond medicine for a successful practice. How important is it for doctors to develop skills in communication and patient education?
Dr. Lokapriya Manickam: That's the Key to Success for being a good practitioner.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: Since you mentioned that communication is key to a successful practice, how do you approach conversations with patients who may have been misinformed about their medical condition or treatment options?
Dr. Lokapriya Manickam: Patience and proper explanation to the patient by portraying the depth of the doctor's knowledge on the subject can facilitate the patient to understand the medical condition beyond the inaccurate information they have. Also, it is important to convey the information in they the patient can understand and accept.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: In your opinion, what are the benefits of doctors having a basic understanding of public health principles, especially in relation to disease prevention and health promotion? How crucial is it for doctors to understand healthcare policy and management?
Dr. Lokapriya Manickam: A constant update on public health and ongoing epidemics is important for a good clinical practice. Healthcare policies are vast and varied for different geographies. This is important to understand the local public and what works, and what not works.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: Can you discuss the role of technological proficiency like electronic health records, telemedicine, AI in modern medical practice?
Dr. Lokapriya Manickam: With the speed the world is growing, we will be left behind and the technologies that we are using will not even exist. For better optimization of time and working more efficiently, technology is handy. But the skills should not be lost in the process. At any point of time, if we need the conservative mode, it should not be forgotten. For instance, If there is an internet outage, we can't sit with a blue screen. Life saving procedures can't be hampered.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: Your observation about balancing technology and fundamental skills is spot on. Now, does continuous professional development in areas such as ethics, medical law, and patient's rights enhance a doctor’s ability to practice effectively?
Dr. Lokapriya Manickam: Definitely, a basic knowledge on Ethics and Law will give the freedom to work without fear. Also, understanding the patient's rights is important. These will help in documentation and record maintenance policies.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: How important do you think it is for doctors to be skilled in research methodologies to advance patient care?
Dr. Lokapriya Manickam: Being in touch with the basics of research is highly recommended for being updated with various treatment modalities and better practices.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: In an era where sustainability is increasingly prioritized, how vital do you consider it for doctors to adopt environmentally conscious practices in healthcare?
Dr. Lokapriya Manickam: Every doctor should understand and visit the Biomedical Waste Management plant to see how huge is the disposal is and how most of them is not environmental friendly.
Dr. Nirainila Joseph: Thank you for such an enlightening session on the importance of doctors going beyond their medical specialties to become more versatile professionals. As you are currently involved in healthcare management, my final question is: As a doctor, how do you see your role potentially evolving in the future with a broader understanding of healthcare management in addition to clinical expertise?
Dr. Lokapriya Manickam: Even a general practitioner should learn basic management skills. It is not just restricted to practice but also to personal life. Understanding numbers and analytics will give a better perspective and understanding of business.
MedBound Times expresses sincere gratitude to Dr. Lokapriya Manickam for sharing her valuable insights on our platform.
