Ep. 179 Decision Fatigue in Medicine: Insights from Dr. Steven Goudy

BackTable ENT

Part of being a doctor is making high-stakes decisions nearly every day. However, making quality choices becomes even harder when you’re inundated with work and not sure where to start. In this episode, Dr. Steven Goudy, Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Emory University (Atlanta), joins host Dr. Gopi Shah to cover decision fatigue.

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SYNPOSIS

First, Dr. Goudy defines decision fatigue and explains its relation to clinician burnout. Based on their experience, decision fatigue might look different in an early-career versus a mid-career surgeon, but it will leave both feeling depleted. Then, Dr. Goudy shares strategies to mitigate decision fatigue, including delegation, coaching, and standardization. He uses examples from the business world to illustrate the importance of saying “no” to opportunities you aren’t interested in. Finally, the podcast concludes with a reflection on how your values should guide the choices you make.

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction

01:32 - Decision Fatigue Defined

03:51 - Personal Strategies to Combat Decision Fatigue

06:10 - Decision Fatigue in the Clinic

24:29 - Decision Fatigue in the Operating Room

29:49 - Decision Fatigue at Home

37:37 - Making Choices that Align with Your Values & The Importance of Saying “No”

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RESOURCES

Dr. Steven Goudy’s Emory University Profile: https://med.emory.edu/directory/profile/?u=SGOUDY

Article on Judges & Decision Fatigue:

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1018033108

Article on Orthopedic Surgeons & Decision Fatigue:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hec.3933

Article on Interruptions in the Trauma OR:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22124638/