What we do is hard. We take care of patients on the worst days of their lives. Ignoring the reality of burnout, like I did, will only set you up for failure. Recognize the signs and take the time to appreciate the gratitude that our patients provide on a daily basis.
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ACEP Now: Vol 36 – No 04 – April 2017
Dr. Thomas is an emergency medicine resident at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California.
Reference
- Peckham C. Medscape emergency medicine lifestyle report 2016: bias and burnout. Medscape website. Accessed March 13, 2017.
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2 Responses to “Positive Patient Encounters Can Help Emergency Physicians Cope with Burnout”
April 24, 2017
Derek McCalmontThis article highlights two important realities of modern medicine. 1). Regardless of specialty, a failure to recognize and focus on positive interactions with patients leads to burnout and cynicism. 2) Medical School now removes students too far from actual patient care and more importantly responsibility. How on earth can anyone arrive at Internship without having experienced unanticipated patient deaths and poor outcomes and be thought to have received an education in medicine?
April 25, 2017
Shahina BraganzaThank you Dr Thomas for your honest generosity. The young woman’s daughter’s heartbreak is palpable, even to me. We accumulate grief over many years. You are right when you say we need to also accumulate joy.
And we need to simply normalise this conversation.