Is the ER stereotype true?

Many Canadian university emergency medicine departments have “Meet our residents” pages, complete with photos and write-ups. Unlike other residency programs, these are rarely headshots of early career physicians in lab coats or scrubs. Emergency medicine residents are seen leaping over logs, riding bikes in exotic places, kayaking, hiking along forested trails or cuddling large dogs.It all feeds into the stereotype of emergency physicians being adrenaline junkies, who thrive on adventure and might consider a night in a tent hanging off a cliff face as a good sleep. But do emergency physicians really need to be night owls and daredevils to succeed in their specialty?Working in the emergency department in Calgary, Dr. Miles Hunter noticed that there was a lot of variety among his peers. “Although we all might have the same or similar knowledge base, the way we express that knowledge and communicate with others, with patients or healthcare providers, can often inherently be different,” Dr. Hunter explained.He undertook a study to get a more objective take on this observation. He and co-author Dr. Catherine Patocka, University of Calgary emergency medicine’s residency program director, provided 30 Calgary emergency physicians with Insights Discovery, a registered personality assessment tool. It’s a tool used in the corporate world to improve self-awareness and communication among team members. After answering 25 questions, people are identified as being in one of four groups, depending if they’re extroverted or introverted, and focus more on tasks or relationships.“I was hoping this study would break down that stereotype and show that emergency medicine physicians are actually quite diverse. They come with many backgrounds and personality types,” Dr. Hunter said. The study was published in Cureus in 2021.All four groups were represented among the 30 physicians. Fewer physicians were in the extrovert/task-oriented group, but the distribution among the three groups was not significantly different. The results suggest that the diversity within an emergency department is real. The pilot study was well-received by Dr. Hunter’s colleagues, and the wider ED is interested in having more people engage in the Insights Discovery tool in the future.Common featuresEven if the stereotypes are not (always) true, Dr. Hunter said he thinks there are some common features among emergency physicians. “I think all emergency physicians are all outstanding problem-solvers. Often, we’re faced with unique situations that mix physical patient symptoms or complaints with a social context for the patient and then system factors for the department or the hospital or the healthcare system that we work in,” he said.What Dr. Hunter’s study shows is that there are a number of different ways to approach problem-solving. “It can come from an introverted background or an extroverted background. You can be more of a relationship-oriented person or more of a task-oriented person. And that diversity probably adds to the value of the department as a whole.”Having people who can approach a problem differently leads to better collaboration and better patient outcomes. Emergency physicians don’t have to look or act a certain way to be right for the job.“Stereotypes are often easy to make but they’re often incorrect,” Dr. Hunter said. “I’d hope that over time, emergency medicine can be seen as a more inclusive and diverse group of physicians that are just very good at providing high-quality patient care regardless of their personality types or background that they come from.”Shift workAnother commonality is that emergency physicians often do shift work. This leaves big blocks of time to pursue other interests, from hobbies and businesses to further medical skills. Dr. Hunter also works as a sports medicine physician at Innovative Sports Medicine and a clinical instructor at the University of Calgary. His emergency medicine colleagues have supplemental knowledge in toxicology, ultrasound, hyperbaric therapy and addiction medicine.“It creates quite a rich environment of skill sets and people to reach out to if you’re interested in learning a new skill or pursuing a different area in medicine,” Dr. Hunter said.While the “Meet our residents” pages might suggest all emergency medicine physicians are into outdoor exercise, the hobbies or side hustles that they pursue are as extensive and varied as the doctors themselves.Dr. Melissa Yuan-Innes, a published author and emergency physician in Alexandria, Ont., said she’s got friends who own a hobby farm, are keen gardeners, exceptional chefs or bakers, sing in a choir, or travel extensively. Other emergency physicians are actively involved in their children’s activities, from being Scout or Guide leaders to coaching soccer.And, of course, a lot of emergency medicine physicians do indeed pursue interests that involve impressive physical exertion in Canada’s wild places. While stereotypes are often wrong, “It’s always amusing when a stereotype is true, like the ER chief who backcountry skis,” said Dr. Yuan-Innes.

Is the ER stereotype true?

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