We recently learned of the passing of Lamar L. Fleming, MD, who passed away on August 14 from complications due to Parkinson’s disease and COVID-19. Dr. Fleming was 83 years old and a respected surgeon, educator, mentor and leader in the field of orthopaedics. He was also a former president of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS).
Dr. Fleming presented at and chaired numerous AOFAS educational programs, and I’ve taken a lot of his views and practices to heart. I was only able to spend a very short time with Dr. Fleming, but I think about his influence on me often. He had a no nonsense approach to patient care, and he was willing to say what was needed to the patient. His ability to do this gave me the courage to act similarly. My patients have benefited from this, and I am eternally grateful.
Saying What Needs To Be Said
As physicians, we oftentimes have to walk a delicate line between being overly blunt and shielding the patient from the true nature of a situation. Coddling the patient does no good, but reprimanding them or even blaming them for their situation also tends to be an ineffective solution. You need to find a balance and drive home the reality of the situation and help a patient understand the best way to move forward in light of this information. I’ve found that many patients respond well when the facts of a situation are laid out and a plan is developed to help them make the strongest recovery possible. We don’t dwell on how you got here, we focus on where you are and how we can improve your situation going forward.
Dr. Fleming taught us that there is so much more than goes into being a physician than just performing an operation or removing stitches. Patient care is so much more than doing your best when the patient is on the operating table, and to get the most out of your patients, you need to be mindful of how you care for them pre- and post-op. A level-headed, no nonsense approach to patient care often helps patients rise to the occasion instead of cowering away from the most effective treatment methods.
It’s not always easy to be direct and have difficult conversations, but we didn’t get into this profession because it was easy. We entered healthcare because we wanted to help patients and to make a difference in this world, and Dr. Fleming certainly did that. His memory and his teachings will live on in countless providers who took his lessons to heart. He’ll continue to help patients, even in his passing, as his lessons live on in doctors who want to continue to provide the highest level of care for their patients. Our condolences go out to his family.
~ Dr. Lance Silverman
