Doctor Stress Affecting Patient Care It goes without saying that stress is a part of the daily routine for doctors who hold emergency medicine jobs. The very nature of the emergency room means everyone involved is usually on high alert for a good portion of the day. Add to that the normal staffing shortages and other problems emergency rooms face, and the stress can be unbearable. Unfortunately, that stress can be just as bad for patients as it is for the doctors themselves. According to a March 2012 study published by the Archives of Surgery, some 80 percent of all doctors admit to experiencing some level of emotional stress caused by events in their personal lives. But most of them also admit they are not likely to seek professional help or support as a means of dealing with that stress. As a result, the stress carries over into what they normally experience at work, making already difficult emergency medicine jobs even more so. Patient Care Suffers Stressed out employees aren't good for any industry, but they are especially bad in the emergency room where patients’ lives are on the line. Stress equals errors, regardless of the job. So when doctors are not finding ways to relieve their stress, they are more prone to improper diagnoses, poor treatment decisions and so on. One wonders how many cases of medical malpractice are due to doctors being unable to deal with the combined stresses of work and personal life. Fortunately, there's a new effort being undertaken by a small handful in the medical community to organize some professional assistance for doctors. Right now, the efforts are focusing on the field of emergency medicine, as that's where much of the stress is deemed critical. By encouraging doctors to seek support and help overcome stress, the group aims to reduce the likelihood of errors in America's emergency rooms. Convincing Doctors It's Okay One of the other interesting aspects to the Archives of Surgery study are physicians’ reasons for not seeking help to manage their stress. The majority said they simply don't have time, while a smaller number were fearful that seeking help would call their mental states into question or possibly cause their peers to perceive them as being weak. If the medical community is to reduce the amount of stress involved in emergency medicine jobs, this mindset has to change. The issue of not having enough time will only be solved when America manages to get its healthcare house in order. One of the reasons the healthcare system is so overwhelmed lies in the fact that people run to see their doctors for every little thing, even when it's not necessary. As for the perceptions of weakness and mental problems, they need to be attacked from a different angle. We need to stop building up doctors and giving them the false impression that they are the best society has to offer. They are human beings that make mistakes, and that's okay. External Link: 1. Emergency Medicine Job Listings from CompHealth - http://www.comphealth.com/physician/emergency-medicine