Is an Anesthesiologist a People-Person?

[QofQuimica]

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For those of you who are fourth years, residents, and attendings, do you consider yourself to be a people-person? Feel free to define "people-person" however you like, because I'm not totally sure what it means myself. My interpretation is that a people-person is supposed to be someone who enjoys interacting with patients. Or maybe it means being an extrovert. Regardless of how you see yourself, do you feel like your job involves much patient interaction and/or requires being an extrovert? Somehow, a lot of IM folks seem to have the impression that an anesthesiologist wouldn't be a people-person. I think it's analogous to the people who think that researchers don't need to have people skills since they're shut up in a lab, which is completely untrue!

 

[Arch Guillotti]

You don't have to be an extrovert to be an anesthesiologist. However the good ones are the ones that can strike up a good banter/rapport with the patients in the short amount of time that we typically see them before they are put to sleep. Aslo the good ones are the ones that carry themselves with confidence and instill this confidence into the patient. A lot of us are "people-persons" but also would probably get tired of being a "people-person" if a lot more interaction with the patients was required. That is not to say that I don't enjoy talking to people sometimes, I find it satisfying to talk to folks about things when they have a genuine interest in their health/procedure, etc.

 

[proman]

I'm most certainly not an extrovert. I'd say most of my fellow residents aren't extroverts either. What we can do is establish raport with a patient, find commonalities that help make a patient comfortable with us and have them trust us. In 5 minutes. A lot of patients have family with them and it's just as important to involve them in the process. I find being professional and witty to work best at this.

 

[militarymd]

establishing a rapport with your patient is just a small part of it....

You have many other customers:

- administration
- surgeons
- other members of the medical staff
- CRNA's
- circulators
- techs
- other staff in the hospital - pharmacy, blood bank, etc.

You can be a good anesthesiologist without people skills, but you need them if you want to be successful.

 

[Planktonmd]

We certainly have a reputation for not being very sociable, but in reality I think there are different personalities in every specialty, and I have seen physicians who lack basic social skills in specialties that actually depend on patient interaction like primary care and OBGYN.
It's sad that they don't teach bedside manners in medical school.

 

[SleepIsGood]

We certainly have a reputation for not being very sociable, but in reality I think there are different personalities in every specialty, and I have seen physicians who lack basic social skills in specialties that actually depend on patient interaction like primary care and OBGYN.
It's sad that they don't teach bedside manners in medical school.

Hey man...I wouldnt go there exactly. I think now a days, or atleast just a few years ago when I was in med school we had these 'humanities' type classes were patient interactions,etc were taught.

However, I do agree with the earlier part of your statement but would even expand it even more. EVERY profession has people that are a little different. Personally, who cares. I agree I would want more 'personable' people in the group I work for,etc.

Having said that. In my opinion, I would respect any competent physician with/without the 'social' skills. Also, nowadays, I feel med schools are about accepting 'well rounded' people.

 

[2win]

I love to interact with some of my patients for ...5 minutes. After the IV is in place I love pushing drugs.

 

[Bertelman]

I love to interact with some of my patients for ...5 minutes. After the IV is in place I love pushing drugs.

...then I "love" interacting with everyone else in the OR.

OP, when you say "people-person", I think of someone that needs to be around others, that loves socialization. Not too many doctors would fall in that category.

~What would you say ya do here?
~Well look, I already told you! I deal with the goddamn customers so the engineers don't have to! I have people skills! I am good at dealing with people! Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?

Everyone's different with how they interact with patients. That works because every patient is looking for someone different. But I think there are some common characteristics each patient is seeking. What works for me is speaking calmly, looking the patient in the eye, explaining everything in very plain English, and letting them know what to expect. I don't tell jokes unless they toss me a softball. I like to think most patients are satisfied with our encounter.

Like others have mentioned, I like doing that small bit because it only lasts 5 minutes, and it helps patients during a moment of great anxiety. I couldn't do that all day long, with 20-30 patients.

 

[nutmegs]

my attending was laughing at me the other day as we were getting ready to induce. after the white stuff went in I said "what!!??" "oh, nothing," he said, "I just get a kick out of watching you. you were treating him like a real human being." I found that really, really funny.

 

[Hockeyguy]

my attending was laughing at me the other day as we were getting ready to induce. after the white stuff went in I said "what!!??" "oh, nothing," he said, "I just get a kick out of watching you. you were treating him like a real human being." I found that really, really funny.

He sounds like a raging d-bag - if he was being serious

 

[nutmegs]

He sounds like a raging d-bag - if he was being serious

it wasn't like that at all. he rocks.

 

[QofQuimica]

Today I asked my surgery attending if he thought anesthesiologists were people-persons. Basically, he agreed with what proman said about building rapport quickly and getting people to trust you in the span of only a few minutes.

I guess the conclusion to draw from this is that compared to surgeons, yes, anesthesiologists are people-persons. But compared to internists, they aren't.

 

[nutmegs]

Today I asked my surgery attending if he thought anesthesiologists were people-persons. Basically, he agreed with what proman said about building rapport quickly and getting people to trust you in the span of only a few minutes.

I guess the conclusion to draw from this is that compared to surgeons, yes, anesthesiologists are people-persons. But compared to internists, they aren't.

I dunno man. I've seen some pretty horrendously awkward bedside manner from internists.

 

[proman]

Hey Q I hope you decide to do anesthesiology. We need more people like you. BTW today I did a CABG and the patient (a Vietnam vet) asked me to keep his dog tags during the case. I did and handed them to ICU nurse afterwards. She taped them to his bed so he could see them while still intubated. Very small gesture but I'm sure he appreciates it.

 

[QofQuimica]

Hey Q I hope you decide to do anesthesiology. We need more people like you. BTW today I did a CABG and the patient (a Vietnam vet) asked me to keep his dog tags during the case. I did and handed them to ICU nurse afterwards. She taped them to his bed so he could see them while still intubated. Very small gesture but I'm sure he appreciates it.

That was really nice of you both. I'm sure he appreciated it too. 👍

 

[Bertelman]

C-section last night, dad in the OR was a former scrub tech. Near the end of the case, after a few stories, he told me he always thought anesthesiologists were the coolest.

I immediately glanced across the drapes to see both OB att. and res. visibly roll their eyes, look at him and say, "Come on, man" as they finish closing his wife after they have brought the newest addition into their life.

 

[seamonkey]

i view myself as overwhelmingly a "people person". I'm just a PGY-1, but I'm much better than most of the people I work with when it comes to dealing with the nuances of MD-patient interactions, especially most of my medicne attendings. These guys walk into to the patient's room, deliver a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer, and when the patient asks what that means, say "Its all going to be OK" then walk out. Or, even better, I've seen them go in and say "Hi Mr X, you have a tumor in your brain. OK? great!", and then leave. Wow. I take the time later to go back in and actually talk to them and make sure the understand what's going on and see what their fears/questions are, and point them in the right direction for answers. This is medicine people, not auto mechanics. Damn.

I seriously considered psych before settling on gas. Admittedly, the impression that I have gotten is that my interpersonal skills may not be used to their potential in this field, but at least I know I'll establish a good rapport with surgeons and OR staff. Probably my sincere enjoyment of working with people and hearing their stories (although, not all, as depression will sink even my boat) is why I hope to get into pain medicine too.

On the other hand, I spend most of my free time chillin by myself. I like solitude, so I don't need others to make myself feel good. Just think that when we are around each other we should be cool to each other and honest.

And whichever way it works out, at least I'll be good at chillin out the patients right before I send them night-night.

But I do still wonder how to keep myself entertained....will see how it all shakes out i guess

 

[Bertelman]

Admittedly, the impression that I have gotten is that my interpersonal skills may not be used to their potential in this field, but at least I know I'll establish a good rapport with surgeons and OR staff.

As you suggest, your interpersonal skills will be put to fine use in the OR, just maybe not with the patient.

When other MDs claim we are putting "people skills" to poor use in the OR, it tells me they don't understand what the OR is really like.

 

[HanginInThere]

C-section last night, dad in the OR was a former scrub tech. Near the end of the case, after a few stories, he told me he always thought anesthesiologists were the coolest.

I immediately glanced across the drapes to see both OB att. and res. visibly roll their eyes, look at him and say, "Come on, man" as they finish closing his wife after they have brought the newest addition into their life.

I've got two kids, and my wife's favorite person in the hospital (for both deliveries) was the anesthesiologist.

She claims that it isn't just because he did her epidurals.