Q: What’s the biggest change you would like to see in HM?
A: Board certification with salary increase.
Q: As a group leader, why is it important for you to continue seeing patients?
A: A boss who is disconnected from the front line is potentially dangerous.
Q: As a hospitalist, seeing most of your patients for the very first time, what aspect of patient care is most challenging?
A: The uncertainty of whether I’m making a mistake. Dealing with families with mental illness.
Q: What aspect of patient care is most rewarding?
A: Getting thanked.
Q: What aspect of teaching in the 21st century is most difficult? And, what is most enjoyable?
A: Same as 20th century except mobile technology, and the students are better. I am a late adopter of technology, having become reasonably successful and happy without these tools.
Q: Outside of patient care, tell me about your career interests.
A: Lots, including comanagement and violent patients. As above, agitated patients who become violent are encountered in hospital medicine. I’ve been bitten twice; other staff members have been injured by patients. There is limited training for staff in this area. By necessity, I have become expert and am expanding my skill and research interests in this area.
Richard Quinn is a freelance writer in New Jersey.