Medizom

This short episode is an exploration of my current thoughts and feelings about Medizom, and what I've learned from my recent guests on the show. These conversations and my explorations of formative books on the current ails of our society have given me a much more developed idea of what being a medic zombie is, and where the solution needs to begin (clue - it's not by assassinating the Health Secretary as tempting as that might be).

In this week's episode I have an in-depth conversation with Vicky, an HDU nurse in Glasgow. It was so great to get her take on Medizom, and the threats of medic-zombie syndrome on being an effective nurse! We speak about the similarities and differences between our professions, and how perhaps a more collaborative effort working together as nurses and doctors might get us through these challenging times.

In this week's episode we hear from Tony, a colleague of mine who’s fresh from finishing his Foundation Years in Perthshire, Scotland. Tony stated that recording this episode was 'a liberating experience' for him; revisiting the more difficult experiences during his FY years, and what might've made things easier. We also touch on his Chinese routes, and he remarks on differences between the NHS and western medicine, with that of both traditional and modern Chinese medicine.

Back after a short break, this season we're delving deeper in to the difficult questions surrounding providing a more compassionate environment in which doctors can be better looked after, and thus the patients in turn. The GMC recently issued an independent report to 'help tackle the causes of poor wellbeing faced by medical students and doctors'. Far from tackling them, they have merely identified 'three key areas' in which to work on going on from here. GMC - we KNOW the problems that we face - now incite CHANGE so things get better!

Anyway, rant over, but it is encouraging that there is more attention being given to this important area. In this episode, I chat to Frank, a shipyard worker who has lived through the beginnings of NHS care to now, and is able to give an insightful analysis of the changes arising through this time.

The last in this series of episodes for the next few weeks, this week's episode looks at how you can become more resilient, by understanding the life path you are on.

As stated, you can will be able to view the pictures related to this episode on my website - www.rossmckean.com, but I will also share it on my instagram page, @medizom. This is also the best way of providing any valued feedback by directly messaging Medizom.

Please also do leave ratings and comments on Apple Podcasts if you have found these episodes of benefit and value for you.

In this week's episode I had the pleasure of having an in-depth conversation with Nuha, an incredibly bright and ambitious FY1 whose zest for all things medicine is utterly infectious! Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed listening to her story.

So, recording in the staff accommodation kitchen came with the perils of a noisy freezer. On realising this 15 minutes through the recording I realise said issue and switch it off, so then listening becomes a lot more bearable :D Secondary problem then being that I naturally then forgot to switch it back on... sorry for defrosting your chicken nuggets whoever's they were!!

In this week's episode I chat to Devida, a CT2 doctor colleague of mine working at Raigmore hospital in Inverness. I hugely enjoyed this chance to learn more about what spurred Devida on in to a career in medicine, and delving in to important motivating factors and threats as we go through our careers.

Apologies for the quality of the audio at times - several bangs at various points as cleaners were stacking tables in rooms around us!

Join me on a magical adventure to Medizom University Hospital, as we learn the importance of developing the skills of compassion at an early stage in your progress up Medical Mountain.

Introducing - the Medizom 'Black Mirror' VR Headset! Listening with your headphones, you step in to the patient's shoes, experiencing the moments surrounding their 'presenting complaint' in to hospital. How will this change YOUR practice? In this episode, we consider how deeply understanding the patient's experience can boost your levels of compassion, to encourage you to improve your practice and in turn optimise the delivery of healthcare.

Music in this episode:

Intro - Matthew Cairns

Black Mirror Theme-sound

Resuscitation song - Second Chance (Cyril Hahn Edit) - Caribou

In this first full episode I discuss key events growing up that have shaped me in to the doctor that I am today. From my first Valentine's card to my girlfriend when 5 years old, to my first day as a first year junior doctor, I reflect on these experiences and everything in-between that have had a huge impact on my life.

A word of warning - once more apologies for the quality of the recording in the pre-amble talk at the start; apparently a rather windy day! But also, please be advised that the content of this episode does discuss pretty morbid things, such as dissection, death, and dying. You have been warned!