10
doc • Summer 2015
Kentucky
Physician Health and Well Being
Keeping Perspective on
Life’s Priorities
By John A. Patterson
M.D., MSPH, FAAFP
Tom Broster has practiced
for 28 years as part of Central
Kentucky Anesthesia, a private anesthesiology group
at Baptist Health Lexington. As president of
the group since 2001, he describes his business and administrative responsibilities as the
greatest source of his stress- not his patient care
responsibilities.
He knows he is experiencing stress when he
sleeps poorly, feels tired and fatigued and when
he loses his temper. In especially stressful
times, he has felt anxious, frustrated, worried
and fearful about the future. When he experiences these signs of stress, he knows it is time
to talk with physician colleagues, friends,
neighbors and his wife to get another perspective or reassurance on issues that are creating
his stress. Playing golf and getting regular exercise help. Swimming laps helps clear hi