Internet CME Course: MedPEP, the Medical Professionals Empowerment Program MedPEP) – Episode 15: Leading with Emotional Intelligence

Activity ID

2955

Expires

January 24, 2025

Format Type

Internet

CME Credit

1.0

Fee

$0

CME Provider: Massachusetts Medical Society

Description of CME Course

MedPEP, the Medical Professionals Empowerment Program, is a Free podcast series jointly provided by Physician Health Services, Inc. (PHS) and the Massachusetts Medical Society. PHS is a charitable organization dedicated to improving the health, well-being and effectiveness of physicians and medical students.

Regulations, technology, organizational complexity, and the explosion of medical knowledge have created a perfect storm for most practicing health professionals. Physician burnout rates now exceed 50%. MedPEP’s star, Dr. Marie Curious, is a young, primary care internist who has started to fantasize about leaving the profession that she loves. On her MedPEP journey, Marie joins Dr. Les Schwab and a group of specialized physicians, coaches, and other experts, who offer a broad range of practical techniques to help her survive and thrive in today’s tough medical environment. The territory they cover includes nutrition, exercise, getting along with difficult colleagues, dealing with bureaucracy and bosses, multi-tasking, system improvement, meditation, and addiction. The MedPEP journey helps Marie, and other health professionals facing similar challenges, gain insight into practical methods for empowering themselves as well as their teams, employers, and the broken system.

Dr. Jeffrey Auerbach is a psychologist, coach, and author who has coached health care executives, physicians, and physician leaders for more than 20 years. This episode focuses on the complexities of emotional intelligence (EI). Jeff explains to Marie and Les that there are four broad domains of EI: (1) knowing yourself, (2) managing yourself, (3) understanding other people, and (4) being able to effectively and sensitively manage relationships with others. Specific competencies within each of these four domains are enumerated. Dr. Auerbach makes the case that by developing EI skills and competencies, physicians become better equipped to perform at their peak in today’s demanding and stressful medical environment. By knowing, managing, and regulating themselves, some physicians will be able to avoid becoming overwhelmed and emotionally overloaded by potentially destabilizing interactions that come up in the course of everyday medical practice. The discussion drills down on the topic of burned-out physicians who experience anxiety and dread about going to work. Although it may be helpful to be aware of these feelings, dwelling on them excessively on a Monday morning may be counterproductive. The role of emotionally intelligent leadership and its positive impact on teams and organizations is also touched upon. Research findings indicate that physicians who are led by emotionally intelligent leaders are less likely to experience burnout. Drs. Auerbach, Curious, and Schwab also discuss the role of EI in preventing conflict. Negativity in the health care environment may arise when emotionally unaware individuals blurt things out impulsively in a way that incites others. Consequently, EI may be viewed as a core competency for all members of teams, groups, and organizations.

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