Private Forums
This is where it gets interesting, and why they need to restrict access. Many forums talk about you. “What if I don’t like my patient anymore?”, or “I wonder if I caused the complication?” and so on. The forums are private. Not for the masses.
Why not, you ask. I see your point. It might be nice to understand the psyche of your doc, right? Then again, maybe not. Maybe you don’t really want to know how they feel about you, or if they have just made a huge mistake. Maybe they don’t want you to know about it.
During training, there are weekly teaching sessions. There is a fundamental lecture called M&M (Morbidity and Mortality Rounds) where we get to dissect a case in which a colleague screwed up, and try to learn from it. We only face the criticism of our peers – those who supposedly think and act alike (in theory). It’s away from the prying eyes of the other medical services, nurses, administration and lawyers.
Docs need an outlet too
Social media outlets function like an anonymous M&M where we can air our ‘dirty laundry’, and just as anonymously, fire back praise or criticism. There are no on-the-spot embarrassing quizzes; rather faceless and nameless comments.
Once leaving residency (training), most docs are on their own and are expected to keep learning all the ‘latest and greatest’ treatments, medicine etc. It’s great in theory, but who has the time to keep up with all that? These sites can help facilitate the learning process, while, at the same time, giving peace of mind to others who may face burnout.
The medical profession needs folks to stand together and to help one another.
The Beatles summed it up nicely, “Oh I get by with a little help from my friends…….”
By Dr. DMS
