Decision Fatigue in Medicine: Insights from Dr. Steven Goudy | BackTable ENT Podcast Ep.179

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: med.emory.edu/directory/profi...
Article on Judges & Decision Fatigue:
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas...
Article on Orthopedic Surgeons & Decision Fatigue:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/f...
Article on Interruptions in the Trauma OR:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22124...
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