When talking with doctors, we patients are often reluctant to ask questions. Since we’re so reluctant to ask doctors about big things—like how to keep from going to an early grave—it’s no surprise that in many cases, we don’t even consider asking them about little things. ...
In any construction project, all of the technical experts work hard in their own areas of specialty. But without a generalist who can see the big picture, coordinate the various technical aspects, and keep everyone focused on the needs of the owner and end user, sometimes the entire project suffers....
The medical field has always been a realm of various types of specialists. (And when I say “specialists,” I’m including primary care providers, since they too have specialized knowledge compared to a generalist like me.) But in recent years the health care system seems to have added more layers of specialization. We used to say were “going to the doctor”; these days we’re more likely to interact with one or more members of a medical team, each with different credentials and responsibilities....
