Case Studies
Case Study 1:
I chose Emergency Medicine because I liked the
prospect of working with lots of people in a large team, and
meeting lots of interesting patients. There is constant variety and
challenge: exposure to a great deal of “real life”. It is very
intellectually stimulating: high decision density with limited
information. There are also strong opportunities for innovation and
service improvement.
I did a lot of outdoor pursuits when I was
younger, and had to make some hard choices in terms of my future
career. Fortunately I made the right decisions! After graduating
from medical school I initially thought I wanted to be a surgeon,
but I’m better now! Actually, I realised that I didn’t like the
artificiality of operating theatres and the need to perform
repetitive technical tasks. EM is much more diverse and mentally
challenging.
I work in co-located adult and children’s
emergency departments seeing 65,000 and 28,000 patients per year
respectively. They are located in an urban inner-city population
with significant social and drug problems. There are dedicated
adult and paediatric observation units. Both departments have
a large emergency nurse practitioner service, and extended scope
physiotherapists in the adult ED. Departmental interests are in
paediatrics, airway management, ultrasound, pre-hospital care and
teaching.
I work in a full time post and then some more! My
job is split three ways between the acute trust (United Bristol
Healthcare Trust: 5 sessions), a large university (University of
the West of England, Bristol: 4 sessions) where I lead the
emergency care research programme, and the regional ambulance
service (Great Western Ambulance Service: 3 sessions), where I am
medical advisor to the air operations strategy and responsible for
medical provision in the air support unit and critical care
service.
EM is one of the few specialties embracing a
consistent 24/7 level of care whilst others retreat from it. This,
coupled with the value that the public continue to place on
Emergency Medicine, means that in the future the specialty has
nothing to fear. Rather there are enormous opportunities for those
who are prepared to continue to change and innovate. The future is
bright!
Jonathan Benger is a Professor of
Emergency Medicine in Bristol
Case Study 2:
Emergency Medicine is an exciting specialty
that gives you the opportunity to keep a good general knowledge of
most specialties and opens up the scope of where you can develop a
specialist interest. Most EDs are a great place to work, with lots
of banter and fun to be had. It’s an up and coming field that
encourages people with dynamic personalities and good people skills
to join the “family”.
I know it’s really geeky, but I really enjoy
learning new things, and also showing myself that I know stuff too.
However, I find the best bits to be in the resuscitation room.
Making decisions; coordinating with everyone; supporting staff and
the banter with other specialties’ doctors. You really have to work
as a team in resus and when it goes well it is a good feeling.
Kasyap Jamalapuram is an StR in
Wolverhampton
Please note the content and
opinions expressed in all case studies are those of the writer and
do not necessarily reflect the views of
NHS Medical Careers.