The Art of Healing, Emergency Minds - A Concept Book

Dear Editor,

Working in the Emergency Medicine Department (EMD) is unlike any other working environment in the medical sphere. The sense of urgency, uncertainty, and the constant interruptions is seldom encountered in other settings. This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the emergency physician (EP); physically, mentally, and emotionally. The residents need to simultaneously take investigative and treatment decisions, handle anxious patient caregivers, coordinate with various other medical specialties for referrals, stabilize, and mobilize patients to make way for incoming emergencies, while heeding to the administrative requirements of the hospital; and also deal with regular academic pressures of rigorous residency training programs.

The idea for this book, “The Art of Caring-Emergency Minds,” was conceived with a view to empower the residents and physicians working in the EMD with the nonclinical skills needed for effective handling of emergency situations, which is seldom taught in the traditional medical curriculum. This unique compilation features articles written by EPs and psychiatrists and consists of descriptions of experiences with crisis situations, and how they can be dealt with in humane and compassionate ways while protecting themselves from the resultant stress that is a natural consequence of dealing with life and death on a regular basis. Improper conduct with patients and unprofessional behavior can lead to unnecessary conflicts.[1] This book highlights the importance of learning to communicate effectively with colleagues and patients and the importance of teamwork, with the ability to give and receive constructive criticism while taking the lead in difficult and complex situations. All this entails significant effort expenditure and stress on the part of the EP. It is well-known that there is a high incidence of work stress and burnout among EM residents and physicians - this can be avoided by adopting strategies to deal with them early.[2] Addressing sleep disturbances due to frequent shift changes, teaching de-stressing mechanisms, along with balancing work and family are discussed by EPs as well as psychiatrists, thereby giving a unique multifaceted perspective. Other crucial topics covered in this book are Breaking bad news tactfully, importance of medical law and ethics, professional etiquette, and difficult referrals. Up to 65% of the nurses suffer from high emotional stress,[3] and hence, there is also a chapter on the nurses' perspectives.

The current medical curriculum gives no importance to the pressures faced by students and residents, as they are taught to just “get on with it,” resulting in disastrous consequences[4] and exhibiting a slight amount of decompensation is often considered a weakness. The stigma about mental health is rampant in the medical community itself, and changing this perspective at the beginning of their careers will help build a more sensitive workforce, and a healthier workforce is, of course, better in terms of improved outcomes of patient care.

The initial feedback from residents has been encouraging, and books on similar themes like this can be used as an interesting tool to educate the future doctors in developing a holistic approach to medical science. Collaboration and networking are an important aspect of successful medical practice and books like this offer opportunities for interaction with other professionals with similar interests such as how selected EPs and Psychiatrists came together for this book.

This book offers a unique set of learning opportunities, guidance, and insight into the challenges faced by a medical professional, as it contains accounts of real-life experiences of people who have faced and transcended similar situations. More such innovative strategies are required, and there is a need for similar books written by doctors for future doctors sharing their experiences from their resident years to offer a panoramic view of everything that lies ahead in their medical journey.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.