8 MINUTE READ

From Luke’s Journal February 2024 | Vol.29 No.1 | Missions and Sacrificial Service

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.”  Philippians 2:4

In the realm of healthcare, where power dynamics often shape the professional landscape, there exists a delicate balance between personal advancement and genuine patient care.

This balance requires a willingness to sacrifice ego, to truly understand our patients and provide therapeutic benefits. However, as many of us are aware, the healthcare industry often operates within distinct hierarchies, where playing the game becomes essential for advancement. It’s important for us as professionals, and doubly so as Christians, to consider the challenges posed by healthcare hierarchies, and take the lead from Jesus’ example of leadership. As such, this article hopes to help you reflect to yourself, or with others, about what our place is in the healthcare system, how its focus on hierarchies have inevitably changed us, and what we can do to re-consider how we work against the status quo.

Reflection 1:

Have you thought of this topic before?

If so, what helped you see that there was a way forward beyond hierarchy?

If you haven’t, what barriers may have been preventing you from seeing a different path?

Reflecting on Hierarchies

In the complex landscape of healthcare, understanding the dynamics involves navigating through rigid hierarchies and recognising the nuanced impact they have on patient care. The healthcare system is predominantly structured around a medical model, emphasising a clear hierarchy where power and authority are tethered to one’s qualifications and status. This creates a paradigm where professionals invest considerable time and effort into advancing through the ranks to gain more autonomy and control over their practice. Although we may all have different views on the medical model, these are the realities of how this system currently works, and so considering its benefits and challenges can help us tease out where God can use us for individual impact.

On the positive side, clear hierarchies can enhance coordination, streamline decision-making, and facilitate efficient communication among healthcare professionals. This structure ensures that specialised expertise is appropriately utilised, contributing to better diagnosis and treatment. This structured approach is particularly beneficial in complex medical scenarios where a collaborative effort is essential.

However, the hierarchical structure in healthcare is not without its drawbacks. The pursuit of higher qualifications and status becomes a focal point, often consuming our time and efforts as healthcare professionals. This quest for status, autonomy, and control is ingrained in the system, which suggests that hierarchy is necessary for making a meaningful impact. It creates an unequal distribution of work – where ‘lower hierarchies’ work longer, harder hours, while ‘higher’ status’ may see it as a well-earned rest after battling through years of hard training. Stricter hierarchies may then inadvertently foster an environment where open communication is discouraged, or may lead to disempowerment among lower-ranking staff, stifling innovation and initiative at the frontline of patient care. The emphasis on climbing the hierarchical ladder may create a culture where personal advancement takes precedence over the needs of the patients.

Achieving a balance between personal advancement within the hierarchical system and delivering patient-centred care is crucial. Healthcare professionals must recognize the potential detriments of an overly rigid hierarchy and actively work towards mitigating its negative impacts. Striking this balance involves acknowledging the benefits of hierarchical structures while ensuring that they do not compromise the essence of healthcare – compassionate and individualised patient care. By striking a balance between personal advancement and genuine patient care, professionals can ensure that the hierarchical system serves as a tool for effective collaboration rather than a hindrance to compassionate care.

Reflection 2:

How do you navigate the healthcare hierarchy?

What helps you when you feel pulled into the self-driven ‘ego’ building elements of the system?

Examples of Jesus Sacrificing His Ego

Examining the life of Jesus provides a profound understanding of ego sacrifice as a model for selflessness and service. Numerous biblical examples illustrate Jesus’s unwavering commitment to putting others before himself, setting a transformative standard for humility and sacrificial love.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8, NIV).

This powerful passage from Philippians captures the essence of Jesus’s sacrifice. Despite his divine status, he chose humility and selflessness, descending from the exalted position of deity to walk among humanity. The imagery of Jesus becoming a servant and humbling himself to the point of death on a cross underscores the radical nature of his sacrifice. This act was not motivated by personal gain or the pursuit of power; rather, it was a deliberate choice to demonstrate the depth of God’s love for humanity. It emphasises the profound impact of sacrificing ego for the greater good.

Healthcare professionals can draw inspiration from Jesus’s examples of ego sacrifice as they navigate the complexities of their roles. Just as Jesus focused on serving and healing others, healthcare practitioners can prioritise patient well-being above personal recognition or advancement. For instance, a physician may choose to spend extra time with a patient to ensure they fully understand their diagnosis, echoing Jesus’s emphasis on individualised care. Alternatively, ego sacrifice may manifest in collaborative decision-making, where professionals, irrespective of their hierarchical position, actively listen to one another’s insights. This approach aligns with Jesus’s model of humility, where even though he held the highest status, he engaged with individuals from all walks of life.

Reflection 3:

If we can all be leaders at our own ‘level’, in what ways can you use your leadership to see others, hear others, and help others?

Jesus’s Focus on Wellbeing and Care

The biblical narrative provides a rich tapestry of instances that underscore Jesus’ profound focus on the wellbeing and care of others. His ministry was marked by a relentless dedication to healing the sick and marginalised, emphasising a transformative approach to healthcare that went beyond the physical realm. The Gospel accounts paint a vivid picture of Jesus as a compassionate and highly decisive leader, driven not by personal gain or status but by a genuine desire to alleviate suffering and bring people to God.

In Luke 4:40 , Jesus’s approach is illustrated: “At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.” This image portrays a hands-on, individualised care that emphasises the personal connection Jesus sought with each person he encountered. His actions went beyond the clinical; they were an embodiment of empathy, love, and a profound understanding of human suffering.

This is further seen in Matthew 20:34, stating, “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” Jesus’s compassion was not a distant, theoretical concept but a tangible force that led to direct, transformative action. The act of touching, in this context, symbolises a willingness to engage intimately with the pain and struggles of others, facilitating healing and restoration.

In essence, Jesus’s focus on wellbeing and care was a manifestation of divine love. The examples provided in the Bible showcase a paradigm where healthcare extends beyond clinical procedures and hierarchical structures. By embracing Jesus’s model of compassionate care, healthcare professionals can find inspiration to prioritise the holistic wellbeing of their patients, recognising the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and spiritual health. This paradigm shift provides an emphasis on healing that isn’t merely a means to an end or a well-cited published paper; rather, it is a deliberate strategy to bring people closer to God.

Reflection 4:

In what ways can you strive to have God-focused interactions with staff and patients?

Conclusion

In conclusion, the healthcare dynamic’s intricacies often demand a sacrifice of ego for the sake of genuine patient care. Drawing inspiration from Jesus’s teachings, healthcare professionals can find a model of selflessness and compassion that transcends the constraints of hierarchical structures, allowing them to provide therapeutic benefits that go beyond the confines of the medical model. By embracing a mindset focused on serving others, healthcare practitioners can create a space where God’s love, care, and kingdom can flourish, enriching both their practice and relationships.

---