My son is in medical school and is thinking of specializing in emergency medicine. So far very little is known about personality traits that distinguish paramedics (PM) and emergency physicians (EP) from other medical staff. This is a valued skill set, because it means that ER doctors are some of the most talented and well-rounded doctors available. The perfect doctor deserves the perfect job! Their patients are usually scared and in some of the most traumatic situations of their lives. Thomas Perera, M.D. This may play a particular role in emergency medical personnel (EMP) dealing with critical situations. Emergency doctors don’t get a patient with a diagnosis; instead, they get a patient with symptoms. It was really exciting. However, there are aspects of our clinical work that attract people with certain general qualities. If you are considering this type of profession, you must have many specific qualities and skill sets. Dr. Anthony Komaroff, Harvard Medical School | In Association with Harvard Health Publications. Thomas B. Perera, M.D. and may be amended from time to time. They must be able to manage a large number of patients at the same time. They treat patients of all ages and all health conditions. A physician exhibiting these qualities is sure to build a long and successful doctor-patient relationship. Better Balance: Easy exercises to improve stability and prevent falls, Core Exercises: 6 workouts to tighten your abs, strengthen your back, and improve balance. That’s another part of emergency medicine that appealed to me. This means that ER doctors must quickly diagnose and treat a wide number of patients without having the benefit of time-consuming tests and evaluations. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in a public group(s). She also worked as a recruiter for many years and is a certified resume writer. ED doctors must be fast-paced, but able to stop on a dime; able to grasp the big picture, but detail-oriented; well-trained but flexible; able to make a decision, and often to lead a team of health professionals to provide urgent care for a patient. Communication. What Does an Emergency Room Physician Do? Denise Brandenberg has more than 15 years professional experience as a marketing copywriter, with a focus in public relations. What are the qualities of a good emergency medicine doctor? Thomas B. Perera, M.D. They must zero in on a problem and make quick, aggressive decisions. Ultimately I decided to go in a different direction, but I understand your son’s interest in emergency medicine. And sometimes, you have just minutes to make your decision — or nature will make it for you. An emergency room physician who can also be simply referred to as emergency physician treats patients who need lifesaving measures and care. A big part of what makes emergency medicine unique and compelling is the variety of patients and problems ED doctors care for. is associate professor of clinical emergency medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and residency director, emergency medicine, Montefiore Medical Center and Jacobi Medical Center and attending physician, emergency medicine, Montefiore Medical Center More Posts - Website When I was a medical student, I was attracted to work in the emergency department (ED). What are the qualities of a good emergency medicine doctor? ERs get their name from the word “emergency,” which means unplanned. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English. is associate professor of clinical emergency medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and residency director, emergency medicine, Montefiore Medical Center and Jacobi Medical Center and attending physician, emergency medicine… Please discuss any options with your healthcare provider. The information you share, including that which might otherwise be Protected Health Information, to this site is by design open to the public and is not a private, secure service. Do you want to become an EM Physician? ER doctors have different workloads each day, and they cannot plan their days like people in other professions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this task can be even more difficult after working long, irregular hours without a break. Dr. Anthony Komaroff is a practicing physician, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Editor in Chief of the Harvard Health Letter. (EDs are also called emergency rooms, or ERs -- as in the TV show.) According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, ER doctors are also responsible for identifying possible domestic violence or child abuse cases. But it is exactly the right choice for the right kind of doctor. The tempo of emergency medicine makes it especially demanding and stressful, even by the high standards of the medical profession. DEAR READER: When I was a medical student, I was attracted to work in the emergency department (ED). What are the qualities of a good emergency medicine doctor? You have to know just what to do, and fast, to handle a remarkably wide range of problems. Make the right decision, and you save a life. What you have written may be seen, disclosed to, or collected by third parties and may be used by others in ways we are unable to control or predict, including to contact you or otherwise be used for unauthorized or unlawful purposes. When a person has a sudden medical problem, including life-threatening aliments such as heart attacks or mortal wounds, he typically winds up at the emergency room. You should think carefully before disclosing any personal information in any public forum. ERs are found at most hospitals around the world, and ER doctors staff them. You might see a person with terrible abdominal pain — then someone who suddenly can’t move his right arm and leg — and then a person who is seeing and talking to people who aren’t there. According to an article on CNN Money, experienced ER doctors made an average of $250,000 in 2009. So far very little is known about personality traits that distinguish paramedics (PM) and emergency physicians (EP) from other medical staff. The contents displayed within this public group(s), such as text, graphics, and other material ("Content") are intended for educational purposes only. In addition, in most ERs, time is not a luxury. Get weekly health information and advice from the experts at Harvard Medical School. When a person has a sudden medical problem, including life-threatening aliments such as heart attacks or mortal wounds, he typically winds up at the emergency room. And all that is interspersed with people with bad colds, or twisted ankles, to give you a little breather. As with any public forum on any site, this information may also appear in third-party search engines like Google, MSN, Yahoo, etc. Each clinical shift, EM physicians work … Learn more », Harvard Health Publications is the publishing division of Harvard Medical School, providing the general public with authoritative, trustworthy, and accessible health information. The Content is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any mention of products or services is not meant as a guarantee, endorsement, or recommendation of the products, services, or companies. ER doctors must be able to quickly diagnose and treat all types of patients. . It was really exciting. And if it also sounds like the role of a point guard on an NBA basketball team, that’s because it is. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Learn more ». . This means that ER doctors have to remain calm under stress, as well as have a warm personality when talking with patients and their families. Unlike specialty doctors, such as cardiologists or oncologists, ER doctors have to be able to switch gears and be open to all types of health conditions and problems. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. When it’s crunch time, ED doctors must tune out all the distractions and noise around them. If this sounds like the skill set required of a commander in battle, that’s because it is. Make the wrong one, and the patient may get even sicker. (EDs are also called emergency rooms, or ERs — as in the TV show.) He/she normally works in the emergency section (room) of a hospital or any other form of urgent care facility with the job description mainly to attend to patients with grave/critical conditions.