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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEncouraged by his professor\u2019s confidence in him, Bills began to dream bigger. However, more than just academics influenced his return to Middle Tennessee to study medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSeveral factors drove us to reside in Tullahoma. I was accepted to Vanderbilt Medical School in the heart of Middle Tennessee. My high school sweetheart, also a Tullahoma high school graduate, and I were married in 1975. We always felt Tullahoma was our home, and we wanted to raise our family there. Finally, we perceived, and the Harton Hospital administration agreed that there was a need for us in Tullahoma.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ultimately, with opportunity and dedication to his studies, a legacy of patient care in internal medicine began to unfold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI believe I had opportunities that no one else in my family had enjoyed,\u201d he reflected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The drive and discipline he learned from his parents, coaches, and teachers spawned a successful medical career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
From Bills\u2019 perspective, every patient encounter is an opportunity to uniquely know and connect with their concerns. In his experience, diagnoses often reveal themselves more through patient observations, appropriate questions, and a hands-on physical evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He encourages younger physicians and nurse practitioners to rely more on time-tested patient interviews and examinations to determine possible diagnoses that may explain a patient\u2019s symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNinety percent of the time, a diagnosis comes from a thoughtful history and hands-on physical exam. Expensive and often unnecessary testing should be done primarily to confirm your thoughts. Referrals are made when specialty treatment is required or diagnosis is unclear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe fact remains, most of the time, the patient will communicate what is wrong with them.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Though he values tradition wholeheartedly, Bills recognizes the value of an electronic record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cElectronic record systems prompt your memory, make you aware of other physician inputs, draw attention to medication interactions, and allow increased cost recoupment. Negative consequences occur when more time is spent interacting with the electronic record than with the patient,\u201d Bills asserted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA recorded history and physical of the past should never trump information and physical facts of the present,\u201d Bills cautioned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By getting to know patients on a personal level, he feels he can offer comprehensive solutions and show them that he isn\u2019t just here to diagnose illnesses but is thoroughly invested in their physical and spiritual well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With capable staff to assist him in navigating the intricacies of electronic systems that his workplace demands, Bills has more time to primarily focus on helping his patients live healthier lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bills treats many adult patients, many of whom are older, some surpassing a century in age. Caring for these individuals has helped him better understand the human body\u2019s uniqueness and the role of genetics and lifestyle in leading long and sustainable lives. He vividly recalled a patient who lived to 106, noting that although genes play a role in aging, each patient\u2019s journey is unique. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy practice is very much a sharing of minds and a sharing of experiences and feelings, and these older patients are very dear to me.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Though Bills acknowledged the beauty of living a long, fulfilling life, he believes there is no specific cheat code for longevity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think it\u2019s great when you can live that long, and some of it is due to the fact that they took really good care of themselves,\u201d he explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut not everyone who takes care of himself lives a long life. Health is a gift, and life can end due to unforeseen events at any time. And yet, we all live in hope that our lives have meaning. It is our duty to constantly remind our patients of the source of that hope and meaning.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bills\u2019 outlook on patient-centered care comes from his earnest desire to help his patients lead healthier, happier lives. While technology may advance extremely fast, he believes in returning to the fundamentals of patient care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In his view, the future of health care should strike a balance, embracing technology without sacrificing the irreplaceable value of a doctor\u2019s touch, intuition, and genuine care for the person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from building relationships and understanding patients, Bills believes another component of basic medical care is humility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you practice medicine long enough, despite your best efforts, you will be humbled. Mistakes will be made, and even knowledge of disease will change. You become more thankful for the right decisions you were able to make, and you become more grateful for the kind, understanding patients who recognized you were doing your best, even when that wasn\u2019t enough.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the stories he\u2019s gathered over the years, Bills has learned that true healing comes from humility, understanding, and, above all, a genuine love and concern for humanity. This is his belief \u2014 and one that he hopes will continue long after his own time in medicine comes to an end. GN <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What does it mean to practice medicine in a world increasingly reliant on technology? Dr. Stephen Bills, an internal medicine physician, offers a refreshing perspective. He prides himself on building meaningful patient relationships and taking the time to truly understand their families\u2019 histories and backgrounds. In doing so, he challenges the status quo and reminds […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":23721,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/tullahoma\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/4-2-1024x683.png\")
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