Welcome to the first episode of DocSide’s Curbside Chronicles. I’m Dr. Rich Popwell, co-founder of DocSide, and today, I’d like to share my earliest memorable curbside consultation experience.
While I was a resident, a dear friend pursuing his medical career called me about his father who was experiencing leg pain and weakness.
Over the phone, I asked him a series of key questions about his father’s symptoms.
Our brief interaction led to a crucial discovery: His father showed clear signs of severe stenosis of the cervical spine with hyperreflexia and focal neurological findings. This brief phone consultation prompted a rapid medical evaluation, resulting in timely surgery that prevented permanent neurological deficits.
Two decades later, this friend and I remain close. His father, still remembers the impact of that moment – when a single phone call changed his life forever.
This experience highlights the power of professional collaboration in healthcare. How often in your career have you impacted a patient’s life through a quick consultation with a colleague? How often has your input or outreach to a peer elevated the level of care delivered?
Now, consider the missed opportunities in our current fragmented healthcare system. The isolation and lack of collegial interactions has limited these valuable exchanges.
It’s time to refocus on what truly matters in medicine: talking with each other about cases to determine the optimal path forward, so we confidently experience the satisfaction of improving outcomes for those who trust us with their well-being.
Welcome to DocSide, where YOU are the value in medicine.
