Balancing the Art and Science of Medicine

Has medicine become more science than art? What are the benefits of restoring the “art” of medicine? These were a few of the issues explored by Joseph Chazan , MD, a member of the Schwartz Center Leadership Council, as he reflected on changes in medicine over his fifty year career.

As Dr. Chazan notes, the limited number of therapeutic and diagnostic treatment options available fifty years ago meant that medicine was skewed toward “art”. The art involved carefully performing a patient history to tease out clues about the patient’s underlying medical condition. The science was restricted to choosing from a limited number of tests and diagnostic procedures to manage the patient’s condition. Despite the scientific limitations of the time, Dr. Chazan notes that the patient-doctor relationship fifty years ago was strong.

Fast forward fifty years and the balance between art and science has shifted. Dr. Chazan reflects that technological and pharmacological advances have enhanced the practice of medicine but often at the expense of the doctor patient relationship. Yet, he continues, the value of personal relationships in medicine is more important than ever as pressures intensify to manage utilization and spending more carefully. These relationships, he notes, are also an emotionally satisfying aspect of medicine

I think Dr. Chazan’s insights are right on the mark. Keeping the “art” of interpersonal relationships central to medicine makes good sense from an emotional, clinical and economic perspective. How do you balance the art and science of medicine?