#clinicians

The Smart Healthcare System

This week I am talking to Colin Banas, MD Chief Medical Officer of DrFirst (@DrFirst) a company looking to unite the “Healthiverse” and shatter the silos in our healthcare data. Colin started out as a hospitalist working at VCU but quickly became involved in healthcare technology working alongside others to develop early implementations of electronic medical records and Computerized provider…

The beginning therapist is bombarded with “self-care” talk. Most of it makes logical sense, every now and then it feels like a cop out when our grad schools, supervisors, friends, agencies, professional organizations or boards dismiss legit concerns we might have about our workload, unrealistic expectations placed upon us, etc. Many therapists can’t afford weekend getaways, nor can they fit a yoga class into their schedule. How do you get creative with self care on a budget? 

That said, here are some highlights from a training I provided to some colleagues this fall about avoiding burnout as a therapist- 

Maintain some kind of journal- track your habits, maintain a to-do list, daily gratitude log, Etc. You’re keeping track of so many people’s moods and emotions you may need written documentation of your own so you can honestly and thoughtfully tell your own therapist how you’re doing! 

Determine realistic activism and volunteering limits. Consider manual labor, giving blood, helping a friend move, attending a protest, that sorta stuff. Our jobs are so sedentary but our minds are perpetually exhausted. 

Keep a balanced caseload, when possible! Trust your limits. Be very protective of your schedule and your days off!!!!!!  You are truly on your own journey, don’t waste precious energy on others progress. 

One Size Does Not Fit All- It’s ok if you’re not into meditation and massage and all things woo. Find your thing.

Create a ritual for ending your day. Visualize shedding away parts of your day- leave some in the therapy room, at the doorway of your workplace, at your parking space, etc.

Set modest, measureable goals for yourself. What achievements or milestones are between where you are at now and where you would like to be? Be very specific- i.e., “say the word suicide with a client without using a euphemism” or “end the session at :50 instead of :55 by warning clients at :45″) 

Spend time with non-therapists. Be mindful of too much shop talk with other therapists.

“In particular, we’re really excited to see the range of manuscripts that can come in, the range of clinical practice that’s found across Europe and further abroad as well.”

From clinical practice to peer review, the new editors of European Heart Journal – Case Reports describe how their roles will help shape the younger group of clinicians and researchers in the field of cardiology.

“Since age is the primary risk factor for developing dementia, and because there is an ever increasing number of people who are age 65 or older in the population, clinical neuropsychologists will be expected to diagnose mild cognitive impairment and dementia in ever increasing numbers and with greater accuracy in the future.”

This week is Dementia Awareness Week. How are neuropsychologists making an impact in the breadth of issues surrounding aging and dementia? Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology has put together a collection of articles focused on our ever-improving ability to detect, measure, and distinguish between these cognitive disorders, available to read online now.