Compassion & TLC: Hallmarks of Dr. Nigam Patel's Family Practice

"Dr. Nigam Patel's Family"

What defines a good doctor? a good doctor? Is a good doctor the one who cures the most patients, or who makes the best diagnosis or the one who knows more scientific facts or who discovers a new fact or treatment? While he or she can be who has all or a few of the above attributes, a doctor should also be honest, kind, humble, enthusiastic, optimistic, efficient, learned and, above all, compassionate.. Although, all these virtues are difficult to find in a single individual, there are many in the medical profession who fortunately possess many of these combinations. And, Indian-American doctor Nigam Patel is one who embodies all these qualities and then some.

Dr. Nigam Patel makes TLC and a good "bedside manner" an important part of his Family Medical practice. He believes in the value of kindness, compassion and patience. Nigam learned these values growing up within his close-knit family in Chicago. "I feel blessed how I was raised with strong Indian values. There was always respect for family, education and community in our home. There was also a close connection with God in our home with the sounds of sacred music, chanting and prayer."

In his Family Medical Practice, Dr. Patel works with the underserved out in Des Plaines for the Access Community Health Network. He has found a little compassion goes along way with his patients.
"I remember there was a man with a bad knee infection. I sent him to the hospital. He was extremely worried about the possibility of losing his leg. In the evening because of anxiety his blood pressure jumped high. The patient wouldn't stay in bed. I felt he needed to see a friendly face, to be reassured. So I went to the hospital to reassure him and calm him down in the middle of night. He kept his leg, his blood pressure came down, he calmed down and was grateful. It is amazing how kindness can go along way," Patel says.

"Attending patients in New Dehli"

Dr. Patel received his medical degree from the University of Illinois Medical School and completed his residency at Rush Presbyterian Medical Center in Chicago. Board Certified in Family Practice, he has been practicing medicine for four years. Dr. Patel speaks English, Spanish and Gujarati. He states his philosophy of care is "to provide excellent medical and obstetric care to my patients.

"I've always been interested in health care because it is a great way to help people and great way to give back to the community and practice qualities of compassion, patience and having a good heart."

These qualities were entrenched in Dr. Patel right from his childhood. Mr. Madhu Patel, a very well-known artist and Dr. Patel's father, remembers that as a young child "Nigam was attached to his grandparents, especially his grandfather who was blind. He would sleep in the same room to look after my father even though he had his own room. He was very compassionate even then and would go to great lengths to teach my parents English and in turn they would try to teach him Gujarati."

Nigam Patel's practice of strong Indian values came as a child. "In the third grade, I found a ten dollar bill and turned it into the teacher. The teacher praised me at the parent teacher conference for doing the right thing. My parents were proud of me. My parents' faith in me encouraged me to accomplish what I've accomplished so far."
Nigam Patel also draws on his experience with eastern practices of Meditation and Yoga. "The mind/body connection is important," Dr. Patel adds. Meditation and Yoga help keep one mentally balanced and toned and stronger to fight illness." Dr Patel also dispenses Ayurvedic medicine along with western medicine.

"A young Nigam receiving blessing from Yogiraj while his mother Nila looks on."

"Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient system of health care that is native to the Indian subcontinent. It is presently in daily use by millions of people in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The word "Ayurveda" is a tatpurusha compound of the word ?yus meaning "life", "life principle", or "long life" and the word

veda, which refers to a system of "knowledge". Thus "Ayurveda" roughly translates as the "knowledge of life", or "knowledge of a long life". According to Charaka Samhita, "life" itself is defined as the "combination of the body, sense organs, mind and soul, the factor responsible for preventing decay and death, which sustains the body over time, and guides the processes of rebirth."
Patel loves America but believes the American healthcare system needs work. "The healthcare system in the US is horrible. It should be a given right to have healthcare. I believe it is human right for quality health care."

However Patel discovered the healthcare system in India was in worse shape for its poor. "I did some training in tropical medicine in 1999 and discovered ten patients to a room, shared needs and other unhygienic conditions in some of the hospitals. People were letting illnesses progress too long. Advanced stages of illnesses were coming into the hospital in India that wouldn't have gotten that bad in the States. That scared me. This has got to change as well."

When not practicing medicine, Nigam Patel is taking classes in Salsa, Waltz dancing or guitar. He enjoys having fun on his time off. In five years Dr. Patel sees himself getting more involved in the Indian community and getting married. "I wanted to get involved in more Indian health organizations and find that special person to share my life with."

Dr. Nigam Patel is proud to be an Indian-American and to be a part of both communities. "I hung on to my Indian values which enables me to be a compassionate Doctor. I also enjoy the rich diversity of the United States. I like Samosas and Gulab Jamun as well as Pizza. As an Indian American, it is good to find a balance between western culture and your eastern values. Doing so, you can go far."

It is nice to meet a doctor who is influenced more by his heart than his bank balance. Dr. Patel wants to make a difference. He wants to improve healthcare for all Americans and Indians back in India. He started his college with BS in Electrical Engineering and then went for Medicine and obtained the MBA while doing medical practice.