Emergency medicine has been particularly difficult over the past 5 years amidst COVID and other major changes in our specialty. In this episode, Andy is joined by George Willis, MD, and Mike Kiemeney, MD to discuss what keeps them coming back to working clinically in EM.
The Impact You Have on Patients
Many of us went into EM because we love saving lives in critical situations, but there is also a fair amount of primary care that we do in addition to getting patients connected with the resources they need. While high acuity medicine can be exciting, EM also puts us in a unique position to make a huge impact on the community around us.
The Impact Patients Have on You
Not all encounters with patients are spectacular, but there will be patients and family members that you have positive interactions with that you will remember for the rest of your career. Hang onto those and allow yourself to accept the compliments when they come. Those will help to fill your cup on a particularly difficult day.
Adopt Neutral Thinking
Try to start every day with a positive attitude! Pump-up music and a good pre-shift routine can help with that. Once at work, it can be difficult to stay positive on a tough shift, but be sure to check your mood when you’re cognitively overloaded.
Enhance Your Work Environment
One thing that can help to lift you up on a particularly difficult day is the people around you at work. Be sure to thank your coworkers regularly, even for the little things. Get to know the people you work with on a first-name basis and try to learn about at least one or two of their interests.
Andy’s Pump-Up Playlist:
Chicken Fried – Zach Brown Band
Lose Yourself – Eminem
Can’t Stop the Feeling – Justin Timberlake
Better Together – Jack Johnson
Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
George’s Pump-Up Playlist:
It Was a Good Day – Ice Cube
Can’t Stop the Feeling – Justin Timberlake
End of the Road – Boyz II Men
Take-Home Points:
- What we do in the ED has a huge impact on the community around us.
- Hold on to the good encounters.
- Enhance your workplace by thanking the people you work with.
- Having a pump-up playlist can be key.
Post by Patricia Capone, DO PGY-2
About Our Guest:
George Willis, MD
Associate Program Director at UT Health San Antonio Emergency Medicine Residency.
Mike Kiemeney, MD
Program Director at Loma Linda University Emergency Medicine Residency
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