Q: As a hospitalist, seeing most of your patients for the very first time, what aspect of patient care is most challenging?
A: Establishing trust with the patient and their family. But it has become second nature to me at this point. The secret is to introduce yourself, tell the patient and family you will take care of them in the hospital, communicate with their outpatient physician and that you are part of a 24-7 team of docs there to take care of the patient.
Q: What aspect of patient care is most rewarding?
A: Helping families navigate end-of-life decisions. It is the most stressful time in a family’s life, and I think it is the most rewarding and honorable part of practicing medicine.
Q: Are you on teaching service? If so, what aspect of teaching in the 21st century is most difficult? And what is most enjoyable?
A: I lead teaching rounds a few months a year when I was a hospitalist director, and I think the most difficult part is getting the residents to understand the workload will be a lot tougher when they get out into the real world. During their third year, residents need to practice efficiency and gauge their work ethic—not the kind of work ethic needed to pass the boards but the kind needed to stay in the ED and help your teammate out until the admissions are caught up or round on a few extra patients when there is a surge in the census.
Q: What is your biggest professional challenge?
A: [Getting others to] stop underestimating my skills and experience as a hospitalist and physician leader. I will complete an MBA through ACPE UMass this December. Learning basic accounting, business law, and finance has helped round out blind spots and build my confidence.
Q: What is your biggest professional reward?
A: Completing quality improvement projects such as increasing DVT prophylaxis, reducing CAUTI, and decreasing throughput times, which all help make the hospital course safer and efficient for the patient.
Q: What SHM event made the most lasting impression on you?
A: Seven years ago, I attended the Level I leadership academy at the Aria hotel in Las Vegas. The meeting opened my eyes to the world of leadership, management, and healthcare economics, which sparked my drive to eventually become a hospitalist director.
Q: What’s the best book you’ve read recently? Why?
A: David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell. As a foreign medical graduate, I was told there would be limits to what I could achieve in my career. Mr. Gladwell’s book is filled with stories of people who overcame difficult situations and went on to rise to the top of their fields.
Richard Quinn is a freelance writer in New Jersey.