doc
Winter 2014 • Kentucky
15
“Take time off on a regular basis, maintain rapport with your professional colleagues
and never be ashamed to share your stresses with them. They can understand things
your family often cannot.” – Dr. John Roth
When he returns from traveling, he feels renewed and
his longtime patients sense the beneficial impact his trips
have on him—and on them. Patients comment to his
office staff when they sense he is needing time off. They
also notice his increased sense of well being upon his
return. He and his patients both feel it when his outlook is
better. Little things don’t bother him as much. No patient
has ever expressed resentment at his taking time off.
Given the degree of stress and burnout in medicine today,
he has these suggestions for self care for medical students
and physician colleagues? “Take time off on a regular
basis, maintain rapport with your professional colleagues
and never be ashamed to share your stresses with them.
They can understand things your family often cannot.”
About the Author
Dr Patterson is past president of the Kentucky Academy of
Family Physicians and is board certified in family medicine
and integrative holistic medicine. He is on the family practice
faculty at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and
the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He operates
the Mind Body Studio in Lexington, specializing in stressrelated chronic disease and burnout prevention for helping
professionals. He can be reached through his website at www.
mindbodystudio.org
Dr. John Roth
Cardinal Hill
“Cardinal Hill Home Care is an extension of the quality
care offered by Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital”
Serving Fayette, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison and Woodford Counties
(859) 367-7148