Good morning!

I had a pretty cool day in the office on Wednesday. Not sunny like yesterday, but it was great.

There were the normal ups and downs of an office day but it is always buoyed by the patients’ appreciation when we invite them to Walk with a Doc.

Jennifer, my last patient of the day, was a referral for palpitations.

She had been worried for months, tearful, and looking for answers.

Consumed with fear of disease, she had withdrawn from those around her.

We ordered a Holter monitor, a couple of labs, and invited her to WWAD.

She smiled, became more engaged, and asked when we started the walk.

Jennifer is not her real name.

Dr. Vivek Murthy, our 19th U.S. Surgeon General, continues to focus on the very real epidemic of social isolation. ← Important video

Why are we worried about social isolation?

Here’s the fancy medical answer from Dr. Cacioppo followed by my answer.

Social isolation can have direct effects on cardiovascular disease risk factors. Perceived isolation and loneliness are associated with increased sympathetic nervous system activity, increased inflammation, and decreased sleep, all of which can accelerate brain and cardiovascular aging (Cacioppo, et al., 2011).

Who in the world wants to be lonely? It sucks.

(Yes, phones are part of the problem)

Millions of us feel that way, some more than others.

At the end of our 15-30 minute office visits, Megan, my teammate, and I spend 5 seconds inviting our patients to Walk with a Doc.

Megan is her real name. 5 seconds.

Hold on, let me get up on this soapbox. Just a second…

Thanks.

This part is personal/goofy – so please don’t share with anyone outside of here.

When I got out of training and into practice, I was scared to death of missing something and I started ‘keeping’ an alphabet checklist in my head.

I continue to try and address this with every single patient (A – need for aspirin, B – blood pressure, C – cholesterol, you get it)

‘G’ has always been Group Activity on my list.

Studies have shown for a long time that those involved in their faith-based organizations, in book clubs, golfing foursomes, quilt groups, etc., live longer, happier, healthier lives than those who don’t.

What I LOVE about our Walk leaders is that they are providing the activity.

The office goodbye cannot continue to be, “Here’s your 6-month follow-up card. Have a good summer.”

The correct office goodbye is now,

“I want you in our club. You are important to me. I will see you at the Walk.”

How can that not be the right answer?

I LOVE that this crew is not okay with that old standard.

Those days have passed.

They want a solution that works, now.

This fall, my wife and I went to our West Columbus Walk site as our normal WWAD at Highbanks Metro Park had a guest physician.

As soon as I got in the car, I wrote down my new friends’ names on my phone.

I walked with Judy, Chris, Rose, Pete, Office Ryan Sigman, Marilyn, Al, Cathy, Dale, Carol, Bandit, Buddy, and Jellybean.

Just like Highbanks, Krissy and I loved it.

All of us were different. Different ages, different genders, different histories, different passions – different everything and it was perfect.

The time has come for healthcare providers to offer a simple solution that works.

It is the most sincere honor and privilege for us to be collaborating with you.

Now, let’s be doctors and turn this thing around.

david