Why Behavior Change Starts With Emotion, Not Information with Dr. Mary O'Connor
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Why Behavior Change Starts With Emotion, Not Information with Dr. Mary O'Connor
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About this listen
In Part Two of this ongoing series, The Exam Room continues its conversation with Dr. Mary O'Connor, orthopedic surgeon and national leader in prevention-focused, value-based musculoskeletal care.
This episode explores why patients are often more influenced by the experiences of other patients than by clinical advice alone — and why emotional readiness, trust, and peer support play a critical role in lasting behavior change. Dr. O'Connor explains how health coaches, community-based programs, and mentorship models help patients overcome barriers that knowledge alone cannot.
We also examine the shortcomings of traditional fee-for-service care, including overutilization of imaging and surgery, and the absence of effective non-surgical, whole-person care. Dr. O'Connor makes the case for an intermediary, non-surgical approach that prioritizes what truly matters to patients — whether that's returning to activity, spending time with family, or simply living without pain.
This episode highlights why engaging patients at an emotional level isn't a "nice to have," but a necessity for better outcomes, lower costs, and a more sustainable health care system.