Ask the Expert May/June

Joel Schofer, MD FAAEM
LCDR MC USN, Naval Hospital Okinawa

“Ask the Expert” is a Common Sense feature where subject matter experts provide answers to questions provided by AAEM & YPS members.  This edition features Dr. Robert McNamara, a Past President of AAEM and the Chairman of the Temple University Department of Emergency Medicine.

Question:

What advice would you give to a young emergency physician?

Answer:

1. Always try to see and speak to each member of your family once per day.

2. Never tell your significant other that they don't know how hard you work.  They do.

3. Bring healthy food to work.  Routine ordering out for food wastes time and money, kills your waistline and kills you.

4. Try to tell each patient, "I am sorry you had to wait so long."  You will win them over.

5. Think about asking your patient, "what do you think might be wrong?”   Or, “what are you worried about?”   You will be amazed at what they are fearful of and may be able to help allay those fears.

6. Appreciate that someday your child might be a "gomer."  How would you want them treated by their ED physician?

7. Realize that every "punk" you see was just like you when they were two years old -  happy and carefree, but they didn't have your parents.

8. Remember that while an EM career is not a cakewalk, the vast majority of adults would be happy and proud to have your job making the kind of money you do while helping people.

9. Invest in your practice by getting involved in the greater affairs of the hospital and medical staff.

If you have a question that you would like to have answered by an expert in a future issue of Common Sense, please send it to jschofer@gmail.com.

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, nor the U.S. Government.