Stimulus - Learn Tools to Crush It in Your Medical Career

The quality of our attention shapes every interaction we have, yet listening is often the first skill sacrificed when pressure, technology, and time constraints take over. Most clinicians spend years learning what to say, while spending little time learning how to effectively listen. In a healthcare system dominated by tasks, metrics, and efficiency, the ability to slow down and create genuine presence may be one of the most valuable skills we can cultivate.In this episode, we explore why listening is both a mindset and a practical skill, how to listen more effectively, how small pauses can transform patient care, and why mindfulness extends far beyond meditation. Finally, we examine simple practices that help clinicians stay present, focused, and connected even during the busiest days.💡 Get Rob's BookSupranormal: A Field Guide for the Impossible Job.Tools, mindsets, and communication techniques so you don't get eaten alive by a job you're good at.Buy it on AmazonGuest Bio: Dr. Ronald Epstein – internationally recognized family physician, palliative care physician, educator, researcher and writer -- has devoted his career to understanding and improving communication and mindfulness in medicine. His scholarly articles have revolutionized doctors’ view of their work, and his 2017 book, Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness and Humanity shows how becoming mindful can transform healthcare, build strong connections between doctors and patients, and help clinicians flourish while providing the best care for patients.You can find Ron at www.ronaldepstein.com and learn about his workshops at www.mindfulpracticeinmedicine.comWe Discuss:Why listening may be the most important clinical skill we rarely teachThe 90-second habit that changes patient encountersWhat a near-missed surgical complication reveals about hierarchyThe difference between spending time and being presentThe difference between reacting and respondingA simple doorknob practice for transitioning between patientsHow "Find Your Feet" helps restore presence during stressful encountersWhy slowing down often improves performanceWhat mindfulness looks like beyond formal meditationMentioned in this episode:Doctoring Done Well | Bite-Sized WinsEvery other week, a few minutes of career-elevating insight delivered straight to your inbox. The Doctoring Done Well Newsletter is never lame, never spammy, and always fresh.Sign up for our NewsletterThe Out-On-Time CourseBuilt for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.Learn More About The Out-On-Time CourseUnBurnable Registration is Now OpenWe took the highest yield tools from our 1:1 coaching and created a community-based course with docs who get it and get you.The UnBurnable Course

How can a person who’s clearly lucid still be deemed incapable of making their own medical decisions? The answer lies in the misunderstood yet critical distinction between competence and decision-making capacity. While these terms are often used interchangeably in clinical settings, they carry vastly different meanings in law and medicine—differences that can determine whether a patient is treated, restrained, or left alone. In this episode, we explore how doctors can (and should) assess capacity, the legal boundaries of competence, and how not to get destroyed on the witness stand. Finally, we unpack a story involving a dog, a scrotum, and a tour of Colorado’s emergency departments.Guest Bio:  Rich Orman began his legal career as a public defender before moving into private practice. He soon joined the district attorney’s office, where he spent most of his career and ultimately rose to the position of deputy district attorney. Over three decades in the courtroom, he tried some of the most complex and high-profile cases in the state. After retiring from law, Rich turned to filmmaking. He is the writer and director of the critically acclaimed Boundary Layer.💡 Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practice💡We Discuss:What Competence Actually Means in Legal TermsDefining Medical Decision-Making CapacityReal-Life Dilemmas in Emergency MedicineThe Right Terminology in DocumentationWhat Physicians Get Wrong in CourtHow to Testify Like a ProHow to Handle Yes/No Cross-ExaminationsOne Legal Nugget You Should Never ForgetMentioned in this episode:The Out-On-Time CourseBuilt for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.Learn More About The Out-On-Time CourseDecision Making Capacity Free TemplateNeed to document decision-making capacity quickly and accurately? I created this free resource so you don’t have to waste time looking up the elements each time. It’s an example of how it can be done—use it as a guide and make it your own.Free Resources LinkNever Lame. Never Spammy. Always Fresh.If you’d like a few minutes of career-elevating curated kickassery delivered to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter. Sign up for our Newsletter

The best communication in high-stakes environments isn’t complicated. Quite the opposite - it’s structured, clear, and consistent. Small, deliberate shifts in how we transfer information can dramatically improve patient safety, team efficiency, and workplace culture. In this episode, we explore three simple but transformative communication habits that reduce errors and build trust among teams. Finally, we share practical tools you can use today to tighten your communication and improve safety without adding extra workload.We Discuss:The Three-Way Repeat-Back: “That’s Correct” Changes EverythingPhonetic Clarifications: Stop the “Norman” ProblemNumbers: Say the DigitsWhiteboards: The Cheapest Safety Tool in the RoomChecklists: Mastering the BasicsCheaper Than Dirt, More Precious Than GoldMentioned in this episode:The Out-On-Time CourseBuilt for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.Learn More About The Out-On-Time CourseDoctoring Done Well | Bite-Sized WinsEvery other week, a few minutes of career-elevating insight delivered straight to your inbox. The Doctoring Done Well Newsletter is never lame, never spammy, and always fresh.Sign up for our Newsletter

No one enters medicine expecting to land on a performance improvement plan, yet for many physicians, it becomes a disorienting reality. A PIP can feel like both a warning and a test, raising existential fears about career, reputation, and future. Behind the formal language is often a complex mix of organizational risk management and legitimate behavioral concerns. In this episode, we explore what it really means to be placed on a PIP, how to navigate the process effectively, and why resistance is rarely a successful strategy. Finally, we share a structured approach to coaching through a PIP that can turn even the most fraught situation into meaningful professional growth.💡 Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practice💡We Discuss:Understanding the Purpose and Structure of a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)Variability and Pitfalls in PIPsWhy Coaching Matters During a PIPCommon Reactions and Emotional TollStructural Flaws That Undermine PIPsNegotiating and Responding to a PIPThe Myth of Performance ImmunityA Coaching Framework for Navigating PIPsCollaborating With LeadershipSuccess and Long-Term ImpactMentioned in this episode:Distilled Kickassery Every Other SaturdaySign up for our Newsletter5 Free Tools To Make Medical Practice EasierScripts for your least favorite conversations. The quick and dirty guide to calling consults. A 10-minute "Driveway Debrief" to switch off from work. My favorite documentation templates. Step-by-step guide for delivering the news of death. Free Resources Link

What is it about your work that still lights you up inside? At the center of every profession is a core - the reason we chose it in the first place, the part that feels meaningful no matter the chaos around it. When we reconnect with that core, even amid challenge, fulfillment often follows. Sometimes, though, that spark fades. Sometimes the core of what we love evolves, shifts direction, or gets buried under layers of stress and routine. In this episode, we explore how to evaluate your relationship with the essence of your work and how small (or big) recalibrations can realign your day-to-day with what matters most. Finally, we share strategies to clear out the noise, fuel the flame, and shape a career that energizes rather than drains.🧭 UnBurnable | Our Cohort-Based Burnout Prevention and Cure CourseAs physician coaches, my partner, Scott Weingart, and I have noticed a clear pattern: some doctors are thoroughly burned out, and many others are on the path toward it. Almost all were shortchanged in their medical training, having been molded into excellent clinicians but given virtually no tools for retaining joy and equanimity throughout their careers.This course will teach you the hidden anti-burnout curriculum.Learn more at unburnablecourse.com 🚀We Discuss:Starting with the central question: How do you feel about the core of your work?Using the stories you tell about your job as diagnostic tools. What tone are you bringing to those tales?What is a micro recalibration, and how can it reshape your workday from within your current job?How do you recognize when overwhelm is a sign of a broken approach, not a broken you?Exploring macro recalibrations. What if you love the work, but the environment is eating you alive?Running the “look-around test” to evaluate other institutions.Identifying “gravity problems.” Which issues can't be solved within your current system?Considering a mega recalibration. What does it mean to step away from the work entirely?How identity and sunk costs keep us rooted in roles we may have outgrown.Visualizing the flame and smoke of your career. What’s burning bright, and what’s clouding the view?Defining what a fulfilling day looks like. Is that kind of day even possible where you are now?Use a five-year future vision to clarify whether your current job fits into your ideal life.Why walking away doesn’t have to mean burning it down. What might rediscovery look like instead?You don’t have to burn it all down to rediscover what lights you up.💡 Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practice💡

Making a major career shift is never easy, especially when you've dedicated decades to a profession that has become part of your identity. The decision to leave clinical medicine can be fraught with self-doubt, financial considerations, and the lingering question - what comes next? But at some point, the balance shifts, and the cost of staying outweighs the fear of leaving. In this episode, we explore what it takes to walk away from a stable medical career, redefine success, and craft a life that aligns with evolving priorities. Finally, we dig into strategies for managing stress, investing in personal growth, and finding fulfillment beyond the bedside.💡 Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practice💡Guest bio:  Dr. Patrick O’Malley is an emergency physician with nearly two decades of experience in community emergency departments and high-acuity urgent care. Based in Columbia, South Carolina, he has recently expanded into entrepreneurial ventures, including The Laceration Course, in partnership with EB Medicine. He helps moderate the EM Docs Side Hustle Facebook group, a community of over 3,000 emergency physicians exploring side gigs and alternative careers. Dr. O’Malley is dedicated to helping physicians explore new opportunities beyond the walls of the emergency department.We discuss:The Decision to ResignFinancial Readiness and the Role of Family SupportLooking Back on a Career in Emergency MedicineRedefining Work-Life BalanceTransitioning to a New IdentityInvesting in YourselfBurnout, Coaching, and the Road to ChangeFinding Joy in Medicine: Small Moments, Big ImpactLiving Another YesterdayCrafting Your Own Path: Empowering CliniciansNewman and John Marks: Managing Stress and CalmMentioned in this episode:🔥 New Free Resource! 🔥Just dropped: a brand-new video + PDF on how to recalibrate your career based on our sold-out webinar, now re-recorded with the best audience questions and tactical takeaways. You’ll get strategies for micro, macro, and mega career shifts, rules for adding anything to your plate, and real stories of how others made it work. Plus: explore our full collection of free resources for getting unstuck, unburnt, and back in the driver’s seat.Free Resources LinkRecalibrate Your CareerI work with physicians to help them flourish in medical practice. If you're feeling stuck, burned out, or in trouble at work because of communication or conflict, check out our FAQ page for more info. Ready for real change? Book a discovery call. It’s free, low-pressure, and will give you clarity on your next steps.Learn more about 1-on-1 coachingThe Out-On-Time CourseBuilt for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course

Leadership impacts everyone—whether you're steering an entire organization or simply navigating team dynamics. It’s an essential skill, yet it often feels elusive, even for experienced professionals. While every leadership challenge is unique, the core principles remain universal.In this episode, we break down eight critical leadership principles drawn from years of experience, hard lessons, conversations with seasoned experts, research, and coaching leaders at all levels. Plus, we share actionable strategies to help you refine your leadership, whether you're guiding thousands or leading a small team.Want more? Subscribe to our free newsletter, Doctoring Done Well. Every other Saturday, straight to your inbox—strategies to work smarter, lead better, and build a career that lasts.We Discuss:Don’t Worry About Leading, Worry About ListeningThis is Not Your Dumpster FireSlow Your RollYou Will Have to Be a Judge, Even When You Don’t Want to BeModel the ValuesWith Behavioral Issues, Build the Pathway, Not Just the ExpectationYou Don’t Know What You’re Doing—And That’s OKPeople Do Things for Their Reasons, Not YoursMentioned in this episode:The Out-On-Time CourseBuilt for emergency clinicians who are tired of chart debt and getting derailed by interruptions and overwhelm. Learn practical, real-time documentation and shift-efficiency strategies to finish your shift and actually leave on time.Learn More About The Out-On-Time Course

Dealing with an angry, upset patient can feel like walking into an emotional storm. The frustration in the room is palpable, and even the most experienced clinicians can feel thrown off balance. While medical training equips us to handle complex diagnoses and emergencies, it often falls short when it comes to managing interpersonal conflict. That’s where the Universal Upset Patient Protocol comes in—a straightforward, highly effective framework designed to de-escalate tense situations, restore trust, and protect your own emotional bandwidth. In this episode, we explore Dr. Dike Drummond’s original protocol, breaking down each step with specific language to use in the heat of the moment. Finally, we’ll add a few practical tweaks to help make these conversations even more natural and effective in real-world practice.💡 Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practice💡Guest Bio: Dike Drummond, MD, is a physician coach, burnout prevention expert, and creator of the Universal Upset Patient Protocol—a step-by-step framework for managing challenging interactions with upset patients. A former family physician, he transitioned to coaching to address the emotional toll of healthcare on providers. As founder of TheHappyMD.com, he’s helped thousands of physicians improve communication, manage stress, and build healthier professional relationships.We Discuss:The Universal Upset Patient Protocol: A Framework for Diffusing ConflictKey Principle: Acknowledgment Over FixingStep 1: Acknowledge the Vibe and Name the EmotionStep 2: Open the Door for Them to SpeakStep 3: Apologize and Show CompassionStep 4: Identify Their NeedStep 5: Clarifying Reflection (Rob O Addition)Step 6: Set Boundaries and ExpectationsStep 7: Express GratitudeBeyond the Protocol: The Magic of Conflict FrameworkMentioned in this episode:5 Free Tools To Make Medical Practice EasierScripts for your least favorite conversations. The quick and dirty guide to calling consults. A 10-minute "Driveway Debrief" to switch off from work. My favorite documentation templates. Step-by-step guide for delivering the news of death. Free Resources LinkUnBurnable Registration is Now OpenWe took the highest yield tools from our 1:1 coaching and created a community-based course with docs who get it and get you.The UnBurnable CourseDoctoring Done Well | Bite-Sized WinsEvery other week, a few minutes of career-elevating insight delivered straight to your inbox. The Doctoring Done Well Newsletter is never lame, never spammy, and always fresh.Sign up for our Newsletter