If you are a regular reader of our blog posts you will have noticed that we regularly discuss the world outside of healthcare. We have explored what doctors can learn from a broad range of people – from Confucius to Albert Einstein to Kurt Cobain. We have looked at the football World Cup and at Dr Who. If, on the other hand, you are new to our blog then you may be questioning what any of this could have to do with being a doctor. Surely such a specialised profession is unique and totally unrelated to these random topics?
We are, however, in good company in looking outwards. Peter Lee, Chief Executive and Medical Director of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management, recently used the subject of war and peace to good effect. Atul Gawande took inspiration from piloting airliners, the building of skyscrapers and the shortcomings of the Hurricane Katrina rescue mission when developing the WHO Surgical Checklist. During his talk on TED, How to Heal Medicine, he looks to motor sport and how doctors can learn from the pit crews who regularly change a full set of car wheels in seconds. Following on from this, the neonatal staff at University Hospital of Wales visited the Williams Formula 1 team. As a direct result, they have adopted and adapted a number of the practices used in motor racing. This has led to improvements in their coordination and communication in emergency situations.
When the technical, scientific aspects of medicine are set aside, a major element of being a doctor is about human behaviour and interaction – communication, teamwork, leadership, management and education.
We actively apply this principle during our Teach the Teacher courses which we run on a regular basis across the country. At these events we encourage doctors to experiment with different methods by teaching their fellow delegates on any subject. Many choose to step away from being a doctor to do this. In recent times I’ve observed sessions as diverse as playing a basic drum rhythm, the rules of hockey, origami and even eight people singing in harmony! For each of these, we then reviewed and considered, ‘how and when can this teaching style be effectively applied to teaching doctors’. Stepping into a different world is often the catalyst for fresh ideas.
Thinking outside the obvious medical world also has excellent applications for patient education. I have heard cataract surgery being explained with reference to smarties, bone fractures to different types of tree and once observed a doctor very effectively explaining diabetic vascular disease to a child using a story from Winnie the Pooh. The most successful examples involve communicating concepts and principles in a way that connects to the world of the other person.
When did you last look outside to see what can be learned?
Oxford Medical Training is the UK’s leading provider of high quality career development for doctors of all levels. We specialise in advancing leadership, management, communication, interview and teaching skills in the medical environment through our courses, distance learning and one to one bespoke services.
