Session 02

In this episode, Ryan talks with Dr. Freess, a community-based Emergency Medicine physician who shares with us why he likes Emergency Medicine and how you can become a competitive applicant. He also talks about the benefits of being an EM doctor and why he would still have chosen to become an Emergency Medicine doctor if he ever had to do it all again.

Here are the highlights of the conversation with Dr. Freess: His path to Emergency Medicine:

Initially wanting Pediatrics and realizing after shadowing that he wanted Emergency Medicine

Why he chose Emergency Medicine:

• Fast-paced atmosphere
• Down-to-earth people
• Variety (everyday being completely different)
• Meeting people and learning about them

Can introverts be good EM physicians?

Yes, a little different but you can create a bond with the patient probably in a different way.

Working in a community hospital vs. academic hospital:

• There is a teaching aspect in the academic setting but there are more patients, more processes, residents, etc.
• In a community setting, you can fine tune things and it allows you to have more time to patients.
• Find what's best for you.

A typical day for Dr. Reess:

• Flexibility in shifts:
  • Morning shifts begin at 7am
  • Afternoon shifts start at 5 pm
  • Overnight shifts start at 10 or 11 pm
  
  
• Sign into the computer and see who to see next
• There is no predictable day
• As you move up the leadership ladder, you get to pick better shifts.

What is it to be a shift worker?

• There are set time periods where you're scheduled to be there.
• There is not call for the most part once you're off the clock.

Does shifting have negative effects on health?

• There are health detriments when you change your shift around a lot but there are ways that you can work around it so it works best for you.
• There are ways to avoid burnout.
• There are ways to diversify your career especially when you get older and it gets tougher to switch shifts (ex. part time, administration, free clinic, etc.)

Traits that lead to being a good EM doctor:

• Flexibility
• Making quick connection with patients
• Being okay with not having long term connection with patients

How to be a competitive applicant for EM:

• Well-rounded in medical training and medical interest
• Accepting to change
• Up for a challenge
• Someone with different life experiences since it goes along with being able to make connections with people

Main drivers for competitive matching in EM?

• Desire for shift work and working less hours than other specialties
• Having good work-life balance

What residency was like for Dr. Reess:

• Strong work-life balance and family-oriented
• Residency is a little half of your typical day since you need to do rotations in every specialty to get a sense of how they operate and get the basic knowledge

What he wished he knew going into EM:

• Majority of your day is dealing with "not exciting" things
• 95% of your patients are the routine stuff and 5% of your patients are the exciting stuff

What he wished primary care providers knew about EM:

EM doctors are there to stabilize emergencies.

What he wished hospitalists knew about EM doctors:

What resources EM doctors have

Unique opportunities outside of clinical care for EM physicians:

• Hospital administrators
• Chief Information Officers / Chief Medical Officer
• Pharmaceuticals
• Consulting
• Community Medical Board

What he likes most about being an EM physician:

• His everyday job and great work-life balance
• "Stop and go" lifestyle

What he likes least about being an EM doctor:

• Shift work in nights and weekends
• Inconvenient times and unpredictable schedule

The future of Emergency Medicine:

• More observation medicine
• More community help
• Generalized health system where they become the "brokers" of healthcare and the center of medical care

Some pieces of advice for those interested in EM:

Try it out and try in different settings. Find diverse rotations and trauma centers. Do a community medicine rotation abroad. Do diverse experiences and understand what EM is outside of the major trauma center.

Links and Other Resources:

www.mededmedia.com