Medical education and chronic disease
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* Serge Dubé

*   © 2005 CMA Media Inc. or its licensors

Anton Miller and associates,1 in their commentary on the need to improve health care services for children with chronic health conditions, reveal one of the weaknesses of the medical profession. We have difficulty adapting to new situations, such as that presented by the increasing prevalence of chronic disease in our society.

Although we can improve patients' quality of life or soothe the burden of certain diseases, many chronic conditions simply cannot be cured, and patients will have to accept that limitation. At the same time, doctors must learn how to deal with patients who are more empowered. An interdisciplinary approach might help, but the medical curriculum will also need to be revised. The emergency department is not the best place to develop an understanding of chronic medical problems, and patient follow-up and concerned dedication must be taught. Unfortunately, faculty members are ill prepared to serve as adequate role models in this area, and strong efforts will be needed to ensure that the next generation of physicians will find the interest and motivation to provide better services to patients with chronic diseases.

## Reference

1.  1. Miller AR, Recsky MA, Armstrong RW. Responding to the needs of children with chronic health conditions in an era of health services reform [editorial]. CMAJ 2004;171(11):1366-7.
    
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