Thread by @GirlMedMedia

"Where There's Smoke, There’s Fire. Extinguishing Burnout in Ourselves and Others/Strategies for Wellness and Burnout" by @DrSuzyFeigofsky, an avid #GirlMedTwitter user, advocate, and push-up fiend #GirlMedLive2018

Nearly 50% of MS3's report burnout. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death of American medical students. #GirlMedLive2018

Emotional exhaustion was associated with higher patient satisfaction scores. That sounds like it should be opposite... but it isn't. #GirlMedLive2018

@DrSuzyFeigofsky with pictures behind her of the field behind her house being burned down. As a city girl, she found this unsettling 😂

The Physician Personality
- Over-caring
- Perfectionism
- Competitiveness
- type A behavior
- Safety-seeking behavior
- Social Isolation

Dr. Feigofsky moved all the way across the country to California from Florida, where she didn't have any friends or family... and wound up at a very malignant practice.

After an ablation she felt gone wrong (Though the patient was very happy afterwards), she began to have very bad anxiety before ablations. Her perfectionism was getting in her way and contributing to her burnout

It took going to counseling for postpartum depression before she realized what her bigger problem was... burnout. It's insidious and sneaks up on us slowly

When does burnout start?
- Energy turns into exhaustion
- Involvement turns to cynicism
- Efficacy turns into ineffectiveness

#GirlMedLive2018

“I filled this out as if i were still that person. That wheel was janky. That car was going nowhere.”

The culture of medicine
- Perfectionism is encouraged and expected
- Emotional vulnerability is discouraged
- commitment to work life over personal life is expected
- Sick days are discouraged
- Pregnancy is received poorly
- Delayed gratification is expected
#GirlMedLive2018

Burnout is not a doctor problem. It's a SYSTEM problem. Evidence shows that burnout initiatives directed solely at doctors have minimal if any affect on physician burnout. #GirlMedLive2018

So what works?

Mindfulness.
Honesty.
Sharing your personal experiences.
Forming connections with others.

#GirlMedLive2018

How do you make your day better?
-Manage your expectations
-Are your expectations realistic?
-Are you willing to change how you view your world?
#GirlMedLive2018

Happiness- physician satisfaction is the KEY to a successful healthcare system

Evaluate your work week and focus on activities that you enjoy doing
Minimize activités that you are good at, but don't enjoy
Find the things that bring you joy in your work!
#GirlMedLive2018

Tips for managing stress
Perfectionism- do you focus on the negative events, comments, interactions?
Central positioning- Not everything is about you or related to you
Worry- Do you spend time worrying about things before they happen?
#GirlMedLive2018

What can we do now?? We can foster meaningful patient interactions at work. We can increase time for dedicated patient care. Allow dedicated time for debriefing for emotionally difficult events. Increase work that has value and meaning. #GirlMedLive2018

"I don't have to look like a man to be successful. I never knew that. I was hiding my femininity to fit in. I didn't have to do that. You can be feminine, and pretty, AND SMART and it's ALL OKAY." -@DrSuzyFeigofsky #GirlMedLive2018 #GirlMedTwitter

What a great talk by @DrSuzyFeigofsky. The Live tweets honestly don't do it justice. What a powerful, personal, honest presentation. Thank you for that gift, Dr. Feigofsky. #GirlMedLive2018