Cautery: Hot Tips

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Hot Tip from Bob Carter, MD, PhD, FAANS

Certainly, one of the great privileges we have as neurosurgeons is to serve in our communities as respected medical professionals. However, there is also great benefit to taking opportunities for community service outside of our usual professional capacity. In the hospital setting, the neurosurgeon is often a focal point of attention as a high acuity caregiver.  There is a documented risk of work-life imbalance that can occur when professional responsibilities become all consuming.

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One antidote to this is to get out in to the community and roll up our sleeves at a food bank, participate in community project, or mentor as coach, as a few examples. We soon become part of something larger than our personal practice or academic career through this community service, ultimately to the great benefit of our communities, our families, and … our personal well-being.

Past Cautery Tips

Hot Tip from Stan Pelofsky, MD, FAANS(L)

Find a great opening line that works for you, then use it every time! Remember, the opening line only works if you let the patient answer.

Getting the Right Diagnosis and Establishing Rapport

My opening line when I first encounter a new patient is, “What’s a nice person like you doing in a place like this?” Yes, this is an unorthodox approach but it helps relax the patient and makes them smile. The key to this approach, and likely most challenging for most of us, is then keeping your mouth shut and letting them talk. I have found it takes just 2-3 minutes of uninterrupted talk by the patient to help me arrive at a correct diagnosis and insure great patient-physician rapport.


Read More of AANS Neurosurgeon’s Columns

Code Red: Essential Coding for Every Neurosurgeon
Wellness Outside the OR: 2nd Installment


 

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