Over the last 8 months, I have worked hard to lose 50 pounds and become much more physically fit. This did not happen by itself. It took a lot of hard work and dedication. There was a point where I had to dedicate myself to fitness and set goal. Once I achieved these goals, another dedication (to maintain my level of fitness) was necessary. Unless this dedication becomes life-long, I risk a return to my much heavier, and less healthy self.
Dedication is an amazing thing. Over the course of the month of August, I ran more than 100 miles, a feat I did not think possible. I also managed to run a half-marathon (twice). Again, not something I reasonably thought I would be able to do. I even plan on attempting a marathon distance this fall. Dedication takes will power and perseverance.
The other morning, a day after I logged 12 miles of running, my alarm went off (as usual) at 5:20 AM. The little voice in my head rationalized that because I ran 5 of the last 6 days, I should sleep in and rest today. It was tempting to get a little rest, to let my sore muscles heal. I deserve some rest because I put all of that hard work in last month and achieved so much! All of a sudden, my mind was beginning to be complacent.
Complacent
adjective: showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements ORIGIN mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘pleasant’): from Latin complacent- ‘pleasing,’ from the verb complacere
Needless to say, dedication prevailed, and I got up and put in my miles. After the run, I felt much better. But such is the battle with complacency. You know what you should do, but you still feel you don’t need to do it again because you have proven yourself.
The Thriving Pharmacist vs. the Complacent Pharmacist.
This little store above was not meant to publicly brag about my accomplishment in a national forum (though it does feel good!). It is, instead, a way to talk frankly about pharmacy and pharmacists becoming complacent. One of the first things my business partner tells our residents every year is to “not become complacent.”
It takes a lot of energy and commitment to be an active, patient-care-centered pharmacist. I know a lot of pharmacists that started out committed to patient care, only to slowly become complacent. Little financial benefit is seen by both the pharmacist and the pharmacy for quality pharmacy care. Complacency comes easy in this situation, and a pharmacist may gradually become a simple dispensing pharmacist, doing only the bare minimum required by the state board of pharmacy.
Dedicate Yourself
For me, complacency in my overall fitness came gradually over the last several years. My wake-up call to get fit came from my loving wife in the form of a gift certificate to a local gym. It sometimes takes a push to recognize that complacency has set in.
Fortunately, my dedication to my pharmacy career has been fairly constant over the years. While I regularly am challenged with complacency, I work in an environment that helps me stay dedicated to patient care. Occasional “wake up calls” come from my business partner and my employee pharmacists. We all work hard to challenge each other to stay dedicated to patient care. It is certainly not easy, and often reimbursement for quality care is non-existent.
The Thriving Pharmacist openly challenges every pharmacist to reaffirm their dedication to patient care. Strive to create a supportive work environment that helps everyone maintain a level of dedication to patient care. Become a dedicated interventionist, or re-affirm your dedication quality care. Be proactive, and not simply reactive in clinical recommendations for your patients. Pharmacists have ready access to their patients, seeing them far more often than most physicians see them. Use your access to make every encounter with your patients count!
