Although the survey response rate was low at 6.6 percent, it was reassuring to know that 95 percent of those responding were proud to be an emergency physician. When asked what matters most, 45 percent reported human interactions and 23 percent personal accomplishments. Almost 90 percent reported that external recognition matters, and 43 percent preferred words of affirmation.

Respondents ranked being recognized for clinical service as most important at 35 percent, but only 8 percent felt they were recognized for it, with written recognition being the most common method of recognition. This begs the questions, “Why don’t we give a compliment when someone’s clinical service deserves commendation?” “Why do we hesitate to give thanks to a clinician who goes above and beyond to help their colleagues?” “Why don’t we recognize a nurse who provides extraordinary comfort to an ailing patient?”

This data gives us a starting point. External reward is important and valued. EM leaders need to understand that their teams do not feel they are being heard. Emergency physicians like what they do, but they want to be appreciated. Interventions to create a community of appreciation and camaraderie include:

• Team recognition awards to motivate staff members and remind them that they are indeed appreciated
• Team debriefs after critical patients to serve as a check-in process, providing a moment to give thanks

Incorporating a daily huddle that includes a moment for recognition is a wonderful and low stress way of starting the recognition process. Taking a few minutes at the beginning or end of a shift to recognize those who have gone above and beyond can serve as an opportunity to formally recognize our team members.

We will kick off this spirit of thanks virtually. To the emergency physicians reading this, thank you for performing this often-thankless job so willingly. Thank you for emotionally absorbing the medical tragedies of humanity and taking on this trauma day in and day out. We humbly request you pay it forward.

Dr. Shah is assistant professor and associate chief medical informatics officer at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Nordenholz is associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora.