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

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. --- 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. --- 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” --- 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/