Physician Thriving: Simple is Good

By Hilary McClafferty, MD, FAAP

We are in uncharted waters. Uncertainty is our constant, viral transmission is accelerating, and it feels like the world is on fire. Trying to capture and convey the sheer scope of emotion and complexity of this time is daunting.

For example, in the past 48 hours I have talked with three health care professionals in tears, quite simply overwhelmed by thinking about their responsibilities. Fine, strong, capable professionals brought to their knees by the exhausting wave of work, childcare, teaching, grocery acquisition, caring for a parent, a special needs child, a spouse on medication, who is a transplant recipient, who has been laid off, who needs to see their specialist, by wondering if there will be sufficient PPE next week, and the week after that, and one after that. People who will show up to work, to care for others when they are truly needed at home, because that is what they do.

We feel for them, we are them. What we are facing collectively is a pressure so amplified that suddenly what came before, when just one of every two of us was so burned out that we were ready to leave medicine, seems quite manageable in retrospect. This is different, beyond burnout, beyond resilience, beyond the unrealistic endurance drilled into us in training. This feels more like a war, when your choices and actions have actual life or death consequences.

When faltering or showing weakness will let the side down, where fear cannot be allowed to stop one from doing your job, your duty, fulfilling your oath and promise. This feels like sacrifice with one’s eyes wide open, knowing that going in to work is the right thing to do, despite our worry, or our dismay over a politicized public health crisis and in hope that the colleague next to us is taking the risk as seriously.

When we are in this moment, with coping skills stretched to capacity, the stream of thoughts and judgments about whether or not we are doing a ‘good enough’ job in our lives can seem never-ending. Are we being careful enough at work? Are the kids getting behind, losing skills, missing out on their first day of kindergarten? Will they be damaged by missing a traditional high-school graduation, by online classes, by not seeing their friends in person? How many playdates can be missed before lasting social setback occurs? Am I insufficient if I can’t be home on the weekend, or the national holiday because of work? Am I scaring my family too much by self-isolating to minimize germ spread? Or am I exposing them by being too lax, because I don’t want to scare them? And on, and on.

When I see this occurring in others it is much easier to recognize than when I am doing it myself. The self-flagellation, the doubt, the judgment. It is in times like these that we need to remind each other to ‘circle the wagons’, to pause, to rest, to connect and pool resources. If there was ever a time to employ mindfulness and bring intentionality to our actions, it is now.

How we were before is over. Things that seemed important then are less relevant. Now we need to let go of unnecessary things, and ideas, and beliefs, and behaviors. You simply do not have the capacity. Give yourself a break. You are doing a good job, you are, in fact, doing a great job in extraordinarily difficult times. The approach needed is this: when you come to a metaphorical fork in the road, make the choice that will simplify your life. What is the easiest thing that will accomplish your objective? Do that. Let the overachiever in you off the hook. Then resist the impulse to second guess, doubt, and criticize yourself. Right now, simple is good. Simple is enough.

Society is collectively being challenged to new levels of resourcefulness, collaboration, and problem solving. Another key principle in simplifying your life is realizing that you are not required to have all the answers. This pandemic is a group exercise and every single person, including children who are old enough, are required to adapt and evolve to meet the moment. Rather than trying to fix things for others as you were trained to do, shift your approach to a shared problem-solving model in your work and in your family circle. This is a time to invite others to step up. Significant growth opportunities exist among the ongoing challenges. Allow others the chance to contribute. Reinforce the guiding principle that simple is good. It is enough.

This pandemic shall eventually pass, and when we are taking stock afterwards, I hope you will emerge stronger and wiser. I hope that you are able to say you were able to maintain your health and physical fitness during the chaos. That you resisted the feeling of overwhelm most of the time. That you were kind to yourself, ate healthy food, prioritized restorative sleep, scaled back to life’s simple basics. I hope you will find a sliver of silver lining hidden somewhere in this collective, lifechanging experience, and are able to tell yourself that you gave enough, did enough, and are, indeed, enough.

 

Hilary McClafferty, MD, FAAP, is board certified in pediatrics, pediatric emergency medicine, and integrative medicine. She writes and speaks nationally on physician wellbeing, resiliency, and whole physician wellness. She is a member of the International Coach Federation, certified physician coach, certified in Positive Psychology and Well-Being Coaching, and author of two books: Mind-Body Medicine in Clinical Practice and Integrative Pediatrics: Art, Science, and Clinical Application. She practices pediatric emergency medicine and is host of the popular podcast Physician Thriving www.physicianthriving.org.

Email: mcclaffertyh@gmail.com       Website: www.drmcclafferty.com       Twitter: @drmcclafferty

 

 

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Patient Care Is Our Priority

Medical organizations throughout North America understand that our rigorous certification standards prove that ABPS Diplomates are capable of delivering the best patient care possible.

Far too often, medicine is led by less than 5% of non-practicing physicians taking away and replacing the voice of the 95% of physicians practicing and placing patient safety and care first on the front lines every day. The American Board of Physician Specialties has raised the standards in physician board certification not only in the quality of their boards of certification, but in hearing and allowing for the voice of those active physicians caring directly for patients. Having been a part of the ABPS over the last 28 years has allowed me to grow as a woman leader in a field often wrought with challenges. It helped me and others raise the bar of the standards of care in my specialty, Emergency Medicine, through their Board Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). ABPS also helped raise the standards of care for 21st century medicine through their certifications in other specialties, particularly in Integrative Medicine & Disaster Medicine. Having physician voices heard matters to medicine and is essential in the betterment of patient safety and care.

Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Emergency Medicine
On October 18, 2007, President George W. Bush released Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 (HSPD-21), calling on our nation, among other initiatives, to “collectively support and facilitate the establishment of a discipline of disaster health”. It is a great testament to the wisdom and foresight of the American Board of Physician Specialties that it immediately set to work and created, within the short span of only one year, an educational blueprint and set of certification examinations, both written and oral, for a new subspecialty of disaster medicine—and it is why I chose to be part this vital initiative and this wonderful organization. This is but one of the many innovative programs initiated by the American Board of Physician Specialties over the years, and why I am proud to support its work on behalf of our nation’s public health.

Art Cooper, MD
Disaster Medicine
When the American Board of Physician Specialties offered to host the American Board of Integrative Medicine, ABPS became a landmark organization working to move medicine into the twenty first century. Certifying physicians who have completed rigorous academic training in Integrative Medicine ensures that the field of Integrative Medicine will continue to develop academically, clinically, and professionally. The leadership of ABPS continues to impress me - they are diligent in constantly innovating to provide certifications for physicians who want to advance their careers and their areas of expertise. I am honored to be a part of this organization.

Ann Marie Chiasson, MD
Integrative Medicine
There are many ways board certification advances a physician career. ABPS Board examination verifies your accuracy, precision, and reflects your mastery of your residency training verifying your expertise. ABPS Board certification demonstrates your level of expertise beyond your practice experience, primary education degrees, and training which are necessary for insurance reimbursement and practice privilege requirements. Attaining your ABPS Board Certification will clarify your purpose, secure your practice growth, and expand into leadership positions. Board certification can serve as an indication of a physician’s commitment to medicine, beyond the minimal standards and competency of training, their measurement to quality of care, and attaining an award for excellence.

Chris Kunis MD
Internal Medicine
When I think historically, advancement in medicine and patient safety and care has been driven by the diversity of people and scientific thought. That’s what I found at the ABPS and more. For over 60 years that is just who we are. I found a physician certifying body that provides a choice and voice to all physicians ensuring that patients are always placed first.

Jerry Allison, MD
Emergency Medicine
When I decided to pursue a full time role as a physician executive it was important to me to obtain additional professional training, education and work experience. Board certification through the ABPS in Administrative Medicine is validation of my efforts and a demonstration of dedication to professional development. We need more physicians to become full time health care executives, knowing there is a board certification option in Administrative Medicine encourages physicians to take the leap from full time clinical practice to healthcare organizational leadership.

Richard Paula, MD
Administrative Medicine
The American Board of Physician Specialties has provided me with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of internal medicine through board certification. As a hospitalist, board certification is an expected credential, and hospitals recognize the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) as one of the three standard credentialling bodies for Internal Medicine. Additionally, the ABPS has helped me develop leadership skills as a Board member and Committee Chairperson. ABPS has also helped me sharpen critical thinking skills as a test question developer and reviewer. The Allopathic (MD) and Osteopathic (DO) physicians in the ABPS are lifelong learners and frequently pursue multiple board certifications. I enjoy the camaraderie of my peers in ABPS.

Loren Jay Chassels, DO
Internal Medicine