Medical complications affect not only the patient but the healthcare provider as well.  Referred to as “second victim syndrome”, common emotions after complications occur are guilt, distress, anxiety, frustration, anger, and insufficiency.  Unfortunately our health care training does little to prepare providers on how to affectively cope after having a complication.  These negative emotions can lead to burnout, substance abuse, chronic psychological distress, and increased medical errors. 

Only by talking openly and honestly about the impact of adverse outcomes on providers can we begin to develop support systems that are necessary to allow practicioners to continue to have productive professional careers.  This session will use evidenced-based strategies to help address negative emotions after complications and increase resiliency.

 

Dr. Daniel Eiferman is a tenured Associate Professor of Surgery and Director of Special Operations for Quality Department and Director of Nutrition Services at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. A graduate of Northwestern University, he went on to study medicine at the University of Kentucky, where he earned the D. Kay Clawson award for academic superiority, improving the academic environment in the college, and demonstrating statesmanship as a student leader. Dr. Eiferman completed a residency in General Surgery at Rush University/Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL as well as a fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at The Ohio State University.  He is board certified in both General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care.

Dr. Eiferman’s research interest includes treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and surgical treatment of lymphedema.  He has multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts and has presented his results at national conferences. 

Dr. Eiferman was privileged to be selected for and completed the Talent Management and Leadership Development Academy at OSUWMC as well as the American College of Surgeons “Surgeons as Leaders” course.  He continued to develop his knowledge and leadership skill and obtained a Master’s of Business Administration at the Fisher College of Business.  He has also developed a leadership elective for surgery residents that focuses on performance improvement, team building, and physician resilience.

Dr. Eiferman has been recognized as an excellent educator and role-model within the medical center having been awarded the Emergency Department Teaching Award for three consecutive years, teacher of the year in the Department of Surgery in 2017, Michael J. Walker teaching award in 2018, and was named one a Top Doctor in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Additionally, in 2019 he was rated within the top 10 percentile of all US physicians and within the top 5 percentile in 2020.