Great conversation with Marian Walsh!

Just some passing thoughts…..At the end of the interview Marian asked if “having a higher goal that just treating illness” resonates with the viewer. It does for me, and I believe as well for the ICUs in which I have worked. Having outreach nurses who specialize in keeping our patients out of the ICU through early identification of risk factors for intubation or inotrope therapy can be seen as an example of this even in the hospital system. On a larger scale, I too believe that keeping people (especially older adults) out of hospitals where they are at risk for infection and deterioration of function is important. That's not to say that the treatment of the acutely ill or treating “sickness” is not as important. It IS what we do, but not all that we do, and certainly not the only reason why I do it.