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A family doctor is the first person to hear the silent signals of illness and becomes a guide on the way to recovery. He or she not only treats, but also supports, consoles and helps find answers to the most important health questions. It is more than a specialty — it is the ability to be there at the right time. For Oksana Bruiaka, a family doctor from Bucha, medicine is not just a job, but a meaning of life.
“I have always wanted to work with people, to help them be healthier. And when I entered the university, I realized that family medicine is our future. This is not only the point of the patient's first contact with the medical system, but also constant support of a person all the way to his or her recovery,” says Oksana Bruiaka.
A family doctor is the first point of contact for a person with the health system.
“And this is a very big responsibility. You don't leave the patients alone, you accompany them, help them, explain and guide them. This is especially important now, when many patients get lost in the healthcare system.”
“In particular, it happens that a patient gets lost in the secondary care system and comes back to us because he or she lacks information or communication. That's why the nurse and I always try to provide a clear route on further examination and next steps. Even after the diagnosis has been made, we do not disappear — we always call the patient back in a week or two, find out about his or her condition, and remind them about the examination or consultation. This helps people feel cared for,” says Oksana.
According to the family physician, medical examinations play an important role in the prevention and early detection of diseases, although patients are often skeptical about them.
“Primary care doctors are more focused on prevention, and our daily task is to inform people that disease prevention not only prevents advanced cases but also reduces financial costs for patients. But, perhaps, the most important thing is to find an approach to the patient, to revive his or her trust.”
“People often think that preventive examinations are just a whim of ours, which carries no benefits,” says the doctor.
“Patients ask: ‘What do these preventive examinations do?’, ‘Who needs them?’ But during such examinations, we can detect serious diseases that the patient did not even suspect. For example, we measure blood pressure, blood sugar, do basic examinations, and find problems that have not yet manifested themselves as symptoms. Then people come and thank us because they realize that early detection is a chance for recovery,” explains Oksana.
“The patient should not doubt for a minute, and even more — they should take the doctor's words as a postulate, a law. To do this, it is necessary to show care, concern, and attention to them. When a patient feels supported, he or she cannot betray either themselves or the doctor. Mutual responsibility is born along with a mutual goal to cure the disease.”
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In recent years, healthcare reform has opened up new opportunities for both doctors and patients.
“Patients have access to the Affordable Medicines Program. Thanks to this program, they can receive medicines to treat cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and now neurological or mental disorders. Many medicines are fully paid for by the state, and this is a great support for people.”
“At the primary care level, we are conducting more examinations. For example, thanks to portable ultrasound sensors, dermatoscopes or otoscopes, we can diagnose a patient's condition right at the appointment. This not only saves time, but also reduces the patient's financial costs,” notes Oksana.
In her opinion, the electronic healthcare system has become a real breakthrough.
“Now, the patient's information is stored in an electronic card. There is no need to look for paper medical records, which people often forget at home. All the results of examinations, tests, consultations are available on the computer, and I can see them at any time. This is very convenient when you need to make a quick decision or make changes to treatment. Prescriptions have also become electronic: in just a minute, you can prescribe medication to a patient, and they will receive it via the phone.”
Unfortunately, the war has become a serious challenge for both doctors and patients.
“The war stopped our work for a while. Many patients left, outpatient clinics were destroyed, and communication with people was lost. In the first months of the war, as health care workers, we found it difficult to recover from what we had experienced, it was difficult to work, but we continued to do our best for patients. After the de-occupation of Bucha, the situation was even more complicated: diseases progressed due to the lack of timely care, patients needed additional treatment, and we had to establish the system.”
Oksana believes that despite all the challenges, Ukrainian medicine is not standing still.
“Over the past five years, medicine has made a huge step forward. Today, patients can get most of the necessary services at the primary care level, and their family doctor has become a real friend and advisor. I am confident that every year our medicine will develop even more, and we, as doctors, will master new skills and technologies to help people even more.”
“Family medicine allows us to see the patient in a comprehensive manner. We observe all body systems, from the heart to the stomach, from the skin to the nervous system. It is very interesting and extremely useful for the patient. But this requires new knowledge, and I am always trying to improve myself: I take courses, learn new techniques, and master the equipment. This makes me a better doctor, which means I can help my patients better.”
According to Oksana, the greatest satisfaction in her work is the trust of patients.
“There are people who come to me after consulting another doctor to hear my opinion. This shows how important it is to build trusting relationships with patients. We become for them not just doctors, but those to whom they can come with any problem.”