What matters matter? P values, H values, leadership, and us

Framed by the question "What matters matter?," this essay considers today's physicians' need for leadership, the principled road they embarked on, and the reasons to continue. Taken as a whole, the vast problems of health care seem unsolvable. Approached in small tangible steps, if not cure, could direction, even inspiration, appear? When people are sick, they look to physicians. By actually caring for patients, physicians have earned trust and learned, scientifically and artfully, about life in ways others cannot. Meaningful patient-centered care occurs at the junction of logical science and tenuous human needs: "p values" and "h values." Along with the privileged understanding gained from patients comes the responsibility to stand publicly for the rights of all patients to private moments. Standing up in these ways can never be easy; then again, it never was. It is the continued journey toward historic ideals. It is an imprecise place of struggle, where caring "leadership" has always been most needed, fulfilling and truly defining physicians. Despite today's seemingly insurmountable obstacles, in this place each physician can find ways to reenergize around what matters matter.