The 2 reasons I quit Emergency Medicine (in my prime).

Just a random story...I hope you enjoyed it. Check out my other healthcare videos!

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[PradeepChakravarthyB]

This is a very sad video. We are seeing very high numbers of physicians retire while young physicians are trying to 'FIRE' (becoming Financially Independent and Retire Early) while seeing a steady rise in the volumes of unhealthy patients. Going into medicine is no longer seen as a glory and is increasingly being perceived as a burden. The number of unhappy physicians that are 'burnt out' is staggering.

[TylerG]

Hey John, just stumbled upon this video. I’m a 56 yr old ER physician and I’m in the exact same situation. Your video was spot on! I love emergency medicine for all the reasons you stated in the beginning, and now I can’t stand it anymore for all the reasons you stated later on. But you also left out one of the big reasons: the endless stream of psychiatric crisis that come in to the ER day in and day out. That’s another population who we cannot fix in 10-15 minutes of talking to them at the bedside. After 20 years of EM, I am so done. Night shifts were cool when you’re young, but not anymore. Fighting with on call consultants in the middle of the night who don’t want to come in, angry family members, patients with entitlement issues, and on and on. I too am looking for my exit plan, but I have no idea what to do if I walk out the door forever. I celebrate you on your courage to say “I’m done and time to move on”. My time will be coming soon. Wishing you the best of luck. I will be following your saga.

[leighchoate]

It was always a pleasure to work with you at PCMH/Vidant. I concur with your thoughts. Our healthcare system is in a sad state and I’m not sure it’s going to recover. My best wishes to those who choose to the stay in the medical field. And I wish you the best in your future endeavors.

[ezcxror]

I left the dysfunctional place years ago in my prime as well. We need to unionize and take emergency medicine back for ourselves and for the patients that need the ED

[celestesaunders]

I was residency trained ER physician for 20 years. As a mother I missed out a lot. Swinging shifts was killing me. I left for occupational medicine for 14 years and hospitalist for 11 yrs. I retired 4 years ago and now go to doctor appointments with 3 elderly people. Medicine is far afield from what it was 40 years ago.

[brpboyyyy]

Dr Stanton! I’m truly sad to see you go, because I knew that every time I saw your name on the orders for patients here at MB on the weekends, I knew they were in good hands and you never ordered CT exams that were nonsense! I know it sounds selfish, but it won’t be the same without you!

I do wish you all the best on your future endeavors and hope that everything works itself together for good. Keep us posted as we will be watching your journey from here on out!

[kickboxing]

Med student - I am highly interested in Emergency Medicine for the exact reasons you described and loved my time rotating through the ER. I really can't tell whether the drawbacks are too much nowadays

[tingtingboll]

You're a fantastic physician and we miss you! Good luck on your future adventures!

[SAGUY]

100% spot on. That was the reason why I as a Trauma and Emergency RN quit the specialty and moved to the OR . 1 pt at a time. Scrub & circulate. Go home on time. No weekend, no holidays and very little call (where I work at least) . I trained in South Africa where you would not see anything non emergent in an ER/ Trauma unit. That is what we lived for and what we trained for . Most ER nurses do not want to be "Clinic" or "Dr's office/ family practice" RNs, but as you have said, that is what we are having to do now in most hospitals .Best of luck in your future career direction.

[andreymak]

John, as a now emergency medicine PA, you have taught me plenty of medicine but importantly compassion in my time of working as a scribe in the ED! Best of luck in your future endeavors!

[billmoore]

I always enjoyed working with you John because I knew the patients were getting the best care available. And you're right. It's not burn out. It's moral injury caused by caring dedicated people working in a shitty healthcare system. That's why I'm not in the ED anymore too.

[kofiofosu]

I’m a 52 year old specialist physician working in hospitals and clinics. I don’t have the energy that I had 25 years ago. I’m saddened that my younger colleagues are burning out in their 30s and leaving. My family is my joy and my wife kids are understanding. My kids don’t wish to follow this path, and I support this whole heartedly.

[adeleearnhardt]

Great video! Sad to see you leave the system, but completely understand your mentality. I never minded the rotating shifts, holidays, evenings, weekends, and general frustrations of working healthcare until I got married. Quickly realized the negative impacts my work as a hospital pharmacist was on my personal life. 13 years in, I've put in my notice & found a new opportunity. Excited for the next chapter! Congrats to you. I'll be following your videos & your journey.

[doctorsorder]

Dude, you and I are in the same position. I’ve been doing ER for 8 years and I see my life passing by. The pandemic fast forwarded my retirement. Just too much.

[Ethanvaladez]

Hey John, just stumbled across your video and may I say I'm happy you are choosing a life that fits you now. Life throws us in all sorts of directions, we may be drifting in an everlasting sea it feels like, the wind blowing us to and fro with no certain direction it seems. We may see whales, and wonders at night at the stars, or an analogy that has long overstayed its welcome.

Besides that, we only truly know what we want to do or what we should do until we truly feel it in our spirit, and I'm happy for you, to guide yourself to what you feel is right for your life. Some so many people are proud of you and I feel very inspired by this video. Thank you for posting, God Bless.

[NovasYouTubeName]

Thanks for sharing all that - really good video ❤

While we all need doctors so badly, your family needs you now!! Lucky kids :)

Canadas system is a disaster as well. My grandma had to wait with a broken hip, possibly due to stroke, for 3 hours for an ambulance, and then another 6 at the hospital before seeing a doctor. Like you said, the emergency room is full of chronic illness instead of emergency injuries, and out ambulances are used like taxis for drunks and drug users. It’s actually scary to me that if a family member gets hurt they might not get help in time. Thankfully when I’ve had to take my son in, the wait for children was less.

Anyway thank you for your content, we use some of your videos for our homeschool 👍🏼

[kjmav]

Three weeks ago, My sister, 72 year old quadriplegic, newly diagnosed cancer and a rectal bleed waiting for an ED berth for 12 hours in a hallway. 143 other patients waiting with her. Emergency departments are completely overwhelmed with people who need care—often routine care—and cannot wait months for an outpatient appointment. This is a mess. I was an ER chaplain in the 80s and 90s, and we thought things were getting dicey back then. I have nothing but empathy for ED professionals in this situation now. Medicine is broken.

[shriramjawahar]

all the best on your new route whatever you end up choosing and thank you for being honest in the video!

[blacksheep]

Nothing can truly prepare you for the responsibility of marriage and kids. No truer words have ever been spoken.

[AutumJ]

Always enjoyed working with you over the years in the EC (even though I was back in BHU.) I left after 8 years back in November for the exact same reasons. I miss it, but haven’t regretted it once. The first holiday working after kids came into the picture was enough for me to realize that wasn’t where I needed to be any longer. You’ll do great at whatever you choose moving forward.