Welcome to all new doctors who have started residency last week!
Twitter is a great resource when it comes to medical education, and every year I enjoy reading advice from senior and junior colleagues for incoming trainees.
Below I’ve collected some of my favourite new and old #tipsfornewdocs:
#TipsForNewDocs Patients don't come to see you because they want a brilliant diagnosis. They come to see you because they just want to feel better. #Meded
— Gavin Preston, M.D. (@GavinPrestonMD) November 18, 2017
Simple #TipsforNewDocs:
1) Introduce yourself & your role to everyone in room
2) never assume relationships, (verify spouse, kid, friend)
3) SIT DOWN (no chair? GET A CHAIR)
4) Speak in plain language (oncologist = cancer doctor)
5) “what ?s do you have” is better than “any ?s”— Fumiko Ladd Chino, MD (@fumikochino) June 18, 2019
#TipsForNewDocs: Always ask pts “what worries you most?” I find I’m ALWAYS surprised by the answer I get, which means if I assume & don’t ask the Q, I’m failing my pt. As a bonus, it’s often something that will never happen, & telling a pt that is powerful medicine. #MedEd
— Tatiana Prowell, MD (@tmprowell) July 6, 2019
"For most cases, asking the right questions and listening carefully will tell you more than any CT scan or ultrasound can. When you skip the social history, you risk treating the disease instead of the person." @AbraarKaran's #TipsForNewDocs https://t.co/umV4fquYql
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) July 9, 2019
History & Physical #tipsfornewdocs
[thread]– Where are you from? is a good thing to ask somewhere near the beginning
– When was the last time you felt like your normal self? can help you establish chronology
– Who is your family doctor?
— Emily Fridenmaker (@emily_fri) June 23, 2019
Loeb's Rules of Medicine:
1. If what you're doing is working, keep doing it
2. If what you're doing isn't working, stop doing it
3. If you don't know what you're doing, do nothing
4. Never make the treatment worse than the diseaseRobert F. Loeb 1895-1973 #TipsForNewDocs
— David Juurlink (@DavidJuurlink) June 21, 2019
Dear New Doc,
There will be times when you’ve run out of doctor things you can offer the patient. Always remember to offer the human things:
1. Empathy
2. Kindness
3. Compassion#TipsForNewDocs— Sam Ghali, M.D. (@EM_RESUS) July 15, 2018
Don't ever be too big to do the small things for your patients.
— Sam Ghali, M.D. (@EM_RESUS) August 23, 2017
Don't be afraid to
• say "I don't know."
• ask for help.
• question what you're told.It's good to do these things.#tipsfornewdocs
— David Juurlink (@DavidJuurlink) June 30, 2015
Patients don’t “refuse” things you recommend, they “decline” or “prefer not to.” No need to make this a power struggle. Seeing yourself as a team w patients is more effective, and more satisfying for you#TipsForNewDocs #WordsMatter
https://t.co/p7PbKCIJrk pic.twitter.com/Uh7l1sxXPp— Chris Moriates, MD (@ChrisMoriates) May 10, 2018
Keep your pharmaceutical apps close but your pharmacist closer: they will save your hide (repeatedly), teach you, and (if you’re lucky) befriend you. #TipsForNewDocs
— Andrew Morris (@ASPphysician) July 14, 2018
And from me:
#tipsfornewdocs Take care of yourself so that you can continue to take care of your patients. Eat, sleep and exercise when you're able. Build relationships with your colleagues. Spend quality time with your loved ones. Seek support early.
— Leora BD (@LeoraBD) July 3, 2019
Get ready for a rewarding and fulfilling career and enjoy the ride!