work life balance in surgery · work life balance what is work life balance? what is at stake? how...
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Work Life Balance in Surgery Colette Marshall
Consultant Surgeon
Executive Medical Director Bedford Hospital
Work Life Balance What is work life balance?
What is at stake?
How to achieve it?
How can the RCS help?
Work life balance:
Work
Relationship Self-Care
Work Life Triangle:
(what we do, careers, housework, chores, etc)
(personal, friendships, partners, spouses, children)
(spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional, health, wellness, exercise)
Doctor : Facts One out of three dissatisfied due to lack of time for themselves or their families
Average life span 10 years less
Depression 4 times higher than general population
8.6% higher risk of emotional exhaustion, 10% higher risk of burnout
Suicide risk 3 times that of general population
1:6 admits to having been dependent on alcohol or drugs
Stages of career:
Medical student
Junior Doctor
Consultant
Boredom by 50 years
? What to do next
Burnout:
Loss of Physical, Emotional and Mental Energy
Patient Safety
Burnout : Symptoms Behavioral – Angry/Depressed, poor concentration,
Chronically late or psychologically absent, work avoidance
Excessive drinking/Drugs
Tiredness, lethargy, sleep disorders
Burnout - avoidance:
Learn to take care of yourself
– learn to rest
- learn to exercise
Learn to say No
Have fulfilling life outside of surgery - develop your hobbies & activities
Learn to cut routine work
Develop strong support system
Portfolio career: variety is the spice of life: Teaching
College Tutor
Deanery roles
ATLS Instructor/CcRISP Instructor
Research
Leadership and Management
Clinical Lead,
Clinical Director, Medical Director
Other sectors
The Consultant Contract: Negotiate to keep the balance
Annual job-planning
BMA work diary
Normal working day 7am – 7pm
Weekend working – elective work by agreement only
SPA time
Mentorship and coaching: Transition points in career
Formal/informal
Career advice
Leadership roles
Emotional support
In-hospital or regional schemes
RCS - website
Time Management: The key to success
Dramatic increase in communication channels
Social media
Patient expectations
Spent Time Matrix: Stephen Covey’s matrix
15
Q1
Q3
Q2
Q4
MANAGE
Crisis
Medical emergencies
Pressing problems
Deadline-driven projects
Last-minute exam preparations
FOCUS
Preparation/planning
Prevention
Values clarification
Exercise
Relationship-building
True recreation/relaxation
AVOID
Interruptions, some calls
Some mail & reports
Some meetings
Many “pressing” matters
Many popular activities
AVOID
Junk mail
Time wasters
Viewing mindless TV shows
Urgent Not Urgent
Important
Not
Important
Characteristics of a Quadrant 2 Person
--Coherence Balance Focus An ability to get on with people Flexibility Portability
Getting things done:
Time saving techniques: Control paperwork – action/ file / throw
Delegate your job
Learn to say no
Analyze what we do
need to do it?
can someone else do it?
any quicker/ easier way to do?
Systems Standard letters Operation note templates
Smart use of technology Phone apps, email, scanning docs, camera Outlook diary Slide share (thanks Vijay Sardana)
Resilience: “Bounce backability”
Being self-aware
Managing emotions
Positive psychology
Keeping in perspective
Ref: Be Bulletproof: How to achieve success in tough times at work, James Brooke, Simon Brooke
De-stressing: Exercise
Meditation
Mindfulness
Time with family
Prioritise time
Relationships:
Surgeons: Perfectionism, compulsiveness & workholism – good doctor but problematic partner
Many married to Profession – no time to cultivate intimacy with spouse
Spend time together
Respect each other
Have fun together
Treat your partner as your most important VIP patient
Parenting and medicine:
Pressure of balancing family and work commitment enormous
Not spending enough time/ daily inattention over the years detrimental to parent child relationship
High expectations
Children and surgery:
A meal together everyday
Fun together once a week
One holiday every year together
Make sure children meet grand parents, relatives periodically
Attend family functions/ marriages
Create family rituals
Summary:
Enjoy being a Surgeon: focus on the good things.
Effective time management is key to work life balance
Work short of causing burnout
Evolve as a comprehensive human being with surgeon incorporated
Plan ahead for a whole career
References: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen Covey
Getting Things Done
David Allen
Be Bulletproof: How to achieve success in tough times at work
James Brooke, Simon Brooke