“Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.” – Miyamoto Musashi
Musashi Monday gold standards tradition vs innovation techniques evolution
In the realm of medical advancement, we tread a delicate balance. There’s an inherent respect for the ‘gold standards’ — time-honored techniques and teachings upheld by those who came before us. Yet, there’s also a push for innovation, a quest to refine and better the processes.
In the early days of my career, it was tempting to solely champion the new and the innovative. But with experience, I’ve recognized the wisdom in the tried and true. Understanding why certain procedures have stood the test of time and why surgeons everywhere know these gold standard techniques. That said, it doesn’t mean we become complacent or stagnate. We should always seek improvements, but with reverence to foundational knowledge that helped build the industry we are in and the procedures being performed.
Blind faith in new tech or methods can quickly lead one astray, just as blind adherence to tradition can stifle progress. Much like Musashi’s wisdom suggests, while we respect and recognize the gods (or the gold standards and the great physicians who pioneered them), we shouldn’t solely depend on them. It’s a blend of respect for the past, while seeking improvement for the future.
In the medical field, knowing the origins of techniques and appreciating their evolution is not just an academic exercise; it’s a way to earn the trust of peers and surgeons alike. It is much harder to convince a surgeon to use a product if you do not know what step of the process the product is enhancing. Or why this particular instrument is more efficient. A solid understanding of these golds standards are pinnacle in the pursuit of the innovation we strive for everyday. A solid grasp of the basics will improve your surgeon interactions and show that you are not just another rep drinking the Kool-aid in hopes of making it to your companies presidents trip. The slow grind needed to gain the experience and the knowledge of who, what, when and why will always help you relate the need for what your current product may be.
This week lets hit the field with a fond respect for how far we have come in the surgical trade. Knowing that a lot of our products might not stand the test of time. Lets be real, it was not that long ago that surgeons all used bone tunnel techniques for rotator cuff repairs and just transverse cuts across the condyles for total knees. Now we have AI guided instruments and pre operative planning software that gives everything a sort of paint by number feel.
What are some of the older techniques that you remember using? does it make you cringe or is it still your fail safe when the fancy stuff isn’t up to snuff? let me know in the comments!
Musashi Monday gold standards tradition vs innovation techniques evolution
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