Identifying needs and establishing solutions with healthcare

Global challenges such as political unrest, natural disasters, poverty and social issues are exerting immense pressure on governments and healthcare systems. In many countries, it is the non-government organizations (NGOs) and philanthropists who step in to lend a hand in times of crisis.

Philanthropy can be defined as the concern for the wellbeing of those less fortunate and the establishment of initiatives that will improve their quality of life. The World Health Organization defines quality of life as being “an individual’s perception of their position in life in the context of the value and culture systems in which they live, and their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns.”

Identifying gaps and inefficiencies as a medical professional

Worldwide, many medical professionals set aside time at some point in their careers to provide critical services to NGOs, communities and individuals in need. The level of their involvement varies, depending on personal circumstances and the opportunities available. It can be on a small scale, such as making time to administer care in a home for children or the elderly or on a larger scale, such as providing essential medical services to entire communities or getting involved in disaster situations.

Doctors and nurses who do regular work within medical organizations and communities are ideally placed when it comes to identifying gaps in the provision of essential services or system inefficiencies that can have long-term negative impacts on patient outcomes.

They can identify patterns where a lack of patient education in terms of medication or follow-up treatments results in reinfections or readmissions. They can also recognize barriers to effective healthcare, such as affordability or inaccessibility to medical facilities in outlying rural areas.

Medical professionals have the knowledge and skills to intervene in such situations and to advocate for improvements. By default, they build trusting relationships and credibility within their working environments, and these attributes help to facilitate successful funding applications and project outcomes.

How medical expertise can be put to good use

For philanthropic endeavors to be successful, there needs to be more than just medical knowledge. It requires a good understanding of ethics, the social determinants and the economics of health care — as well as empathy.

There are many areas where a medical practitioner can become involved. There may be a problem that they have identified in their line of work or a passion that they have for helping people with specific problems. Some practitioners may be limited to working within their geographical area, and usually, their volunteer work is related to their line of expertise.

Time constraints are also a frequent challenge for medical professionals who are already battling a busy schedule and there are not enough hours in the day.

Primary care practitioners can opt to work a few hours a week, volunteering in medical facilities where their contributions make a difference. More specialized medical staff may offer their expertise in the form of procedures or operations for underprivileged members of the community.

As an aspiring medical philanthropist, here are some of the options for consideration:

• Serve on boards of health organizations or NGOs where you are part of the decision-making process.
• Offer your expertise at a state or federal government level to have a say in the drafting and reviewing of medical policies.
• Advocate for the establishment of medical services in an underserved area.
• Be instrumental in the prioritization of medical interventions that will have the greatest impact in areas with restraints on finance or location.
• Implement patient education projects.
• Volunteer at clinics or community centers where you can mentor healthcare workers or students in these facilities.
• Educate underserved communities on how good food and exercise can prevent disease. This may include guidance in establishing a vegetable garden or yoga classes.

If you have an interest in giving back to the community, Dr. Bradley Bakotic’s contributions to society and the medical fraternity are inspirational. Currently serving in a temporary capacity as an anatomic and clinical pathologist at the NGO-run Southern Ohio Medical Center, Bradley Bakotic is also the founder of a non-profit organization that provides textbooks to aspiring medical professionals. As an author himself, Dr. Bakotic’s publications in medical journals and his involvement in the education of his fellow professionals have been invaluable to many in the field of medicine.

There’s no time like the present

From the above, we can see that there are many opportunities for getting involved. You can take it one step further and become a full-time healthcare philanthropist.

The current trend towards an aging population means that medical professionals are in high demand, and few have any time to spare. Many people wait until they are semi-retired before pursuing their philanthropic ideals. Better late than never, however, there is need now.