Mark Borden MD | The Role of Experience in Emergency Care

 

Experience is one of the cornerstones of medical wisdom, especially in emergency care. Textbooks can teach the protocols and procedures for handling various emergencies, but they cannot fully prepare a healthcare professional for the realities of a crisis. Experience is what bridges this gap.

 

Consider the scenario of a patient arriving at the emergency room with severe chest pain. The textbook response would be to assess for a heart attack, order an ECG, and administer the appropriate medications. However, an experienced physician might notice subtle signs—a certain look in the patient's eyes, the way they describe their pain, or even their body language—that suggest something more or different is going on. This intuition, honed through years of handling similar cases, can lead to a more accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment, potentially saving the patient's life. Mark Borden MD

 

Experience also teaches healthcare providers how to manage their own emotions and stress during emergencies. The first time a young doctor faces a critical situation, the adrenaline rush can be overwhelming. But over time, they learn to channel that energy into focused action. They become adept at triaging multiple patients, making swift decisions, and leading a team under pressure. This calm, confident demeanor not only improves patient care but also reassures patients and their families during some of the most frightening moments of their lives.