I’m reading Brad Thor’s book, Full Black. In the book, a “former Navy SEAL Team 6 member turned covert counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath,” joins an ultra-secretive, counterterrorism group whose motto is, “Find, Fix, Finish.” His job: save the United States from the horrors of a massive terrorist attack.
I instantly liked the motto, “Find, Fix, Finish;” and, while I do not have SEAL training, as your doc, my job is to thwart attacks on your health by a wide variety of terrorists, known as infections, diseases and addictions, or to limit their damage and help you heal. I think I like being a covert operative better than being a chef or CSI technician. It sounds sexier!
The three “f’s” start with “find.” “Finding” what is going to hurt you or what is currently hurting you is critical. Many of my articles have dealt with the art of diagnosis. Just as Scot Harvath depends on his team to root out the villains, you, your family and your doc need to work together to uncover any hidden villains lurking in your history or actively harming you.
The “fix” is designing an appropriate treatment regimen to protect you from harm and repair any damage already done. Treatment is not synonymous with medication. Treatment starts with appropriate lifestyle changes, diet, exercise and giving up unhealthy habits, to name a few. Lack of compliance with treatment protocols often lead to disaster.
Today’s article is about the “finish.” It’s the “finish” that is often lacking in medicine. While I often write about diagnosis and treatment, Thor’s book has made me focus on the real problem: getting the job done once and for all. Too often patients try to comply and fail to follow through. Many times they stop short of their goals. While “finishing” is not always possible, it is worth making every effort to accomplish the goal.
When my patients do “finish” their job, it is a sight to behold. Recently, I wrote “Wow.” The two patients depicted in this story “finished” their jobs and shed their medication. Finishing the work you start is an integral part of success!
The next time you go to your doc, work through the “Find, Fix, Finish” protocol. Remember, if at all possible, you want to finish the job. “Finishing” means getting your blood pressure into a normal range and then doing whatever is necessary to keep it there. “Finishing” means going on that diabetic diet your doc recommended and make it your own diet, not something you are doing to lower your blood sugar so that you can resume your old bad habits. “Finishing” means never smoking again. “Finishing” means sticking with your new exercise routine.
What job do you want to “finish”? What job needs to be “finished”? Take the first step. Tell your doc it is time to finish the work you need to do to be healthy and ask him for his help.
