Mastering Intensive Care

From finish-line highs to injury, doubt, and rebuilding. Over two years ago, Run Larapinta ended in triumph. But the months that followed brought injury, uncertainty, and a slow road back to running. In this episode, I reconnect with fellow intensivist Ed Litton to reflect on what really happened after we crossed the finish line. The original Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta series, published over several months in 2023, followed our journey as we prepared for and completed the four-day, 120 km trail running stage race along the spectacular Larapinta Trail in Central Australia. It was a shared adventure and a memorable experience. But the story didn't end there. In this recap episode, Ed speaks honestly about the unexpected challenges that followed, including a hip injury that led to months off running, and the psychological impact of losing his confidence. It was a slow rehabilitation, and it taught him important lessons about the patience and humility an endurance runner must have. It wasn't all roses for me, either, and I talk about the knee injury that temporarily derailed me, and threatened my identity. This episode serves as a reflection on the Run Larapinta journey and a reminder that the most meaningful lessons from endurance challenges often come after the finish line. Andrew Davies -------------------- Relevant links Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 2 Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 3 Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 4 Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 5 Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 6 Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 7 Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 8 Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 9 Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on X (Twitter): @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media      

The guest on this episode is Dr Forbes McGain, who speaks about what sustainability really means in healthcare, and why it's inseparable from good medicine. Drawing on his clinical work, research, and experience during COVID-19, Forbes explores how everyday ICU decisions carry environmental consequences, how "less is more" can benefit both patients and the planet, and how sustainability can align with patient safety, staff wellbeing, and cost. The conversation moves from bedside practice to hospital systems and innovation, while also reflecting on communication, mentorship, and what it means to be a thoughtful, humane intensivist. Forbes is an intensivist, anaesthetist, researcher, and one of the leading voices in sustainable healthcare in Australia. He works clinically at Western Health in Melbourne and is also an Associate Professor of Critical Care and the Associate Dean of Sustainable Healthcare at the University of Melbourne. In this episode, Forbes speaks about: How growing up on a farm shaped his connection to nature and medicine His pathway through anaesthesia and intensive care, and why he still practises both What sustainability really means in healthcare Why every decision made on an ICU ward round has an environmental footprint Thinking in life cycles rather than single-use devices Practical examples of sustainable practice at the bedside The principle of "less is more" in intensive care Micro, meso, and macro approaches to creating change The central role of nurses in the ICU Hospital energy use and the case for fully electric hospitals Innovation during COVID-19, including the McMonty isolation hood What sustains him personally, and advice for trainees interested in systems change I hope you enjoy listening to this inspiring conversation with Associate Professor Forbes McGain. Andrew Davies -------------------- About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to work, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing. -------------------- Relevant links A/Prof Forbes McGain on LinkedIn Healthcare Carbon Lab Climate CATCH Lab Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) McMonty Hood Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on X (Twitter): @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media  

The guest on this episode is Dr Nhi Nguyen, who as a six-year-old escaped Vietnam by boat. Today, she is an intensivist, a healthcare leader, and a voice for purpose and compassion in medicine. Dr Nhi Nguyen is the Clinical Director of Intensive Care NSW and served as the state's ICU Clinical Advisor during the COVID-19 response. She is closely involved in the Single Digital Patient Record program and is the clinical lead for the Nepean Hospital Redevelopment. Nhi serves on the Boards of the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District and the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM). In this conversation, Nhi shares her remarkable journey - from refugee beginnings to senior leadership in Australian intensive care. She reflects on her family's escape, her early determination not to stand out, and the irony that she now holds these major roles with NSW Health, the CICM and a major hospital redevelopment. Nhi speaks about the mentors who opened doors, the pivotal choices that shaped her career, and the clarity she has found in defining her purpose. She also recalls her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she helped coordinate intensive care responses across New South Wales under extraordinary pressure. What shines through is not only Nhi's capability, but her humanity — her focus on compassion, cultural identity, and lifting up those whose potential might otherwise go unseen. Nhi's is a story of courage, resilience, and humility. And a reminder of what it truly means to be an intensivist. Thank you for listening. Andrew Davies -------------------- About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to work, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing. -------------------- Relevant links Dr Nhi Nguyen on LinkedIn Piece on Dr Nhi Nguyen about major award Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on X (Twitter): @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media  

The guest on this episode is Professor Rob Mac Sweeney, who founded and leads the hugely valuable organisation Critical Care Reviews. Rob is a Consultant Intensivist at the Royal Victoria Hospital and an Honorary Professor of Practice at Queen's University in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Rob founded Critical Care Reviews back in 2008 and this has grown to now be holding two meetings a year where the largest trials in critical care are presented, critiqued and analysed. Critical Care Reviews also has a comprehensive website, a podcast and publishes a newsletter and a paper of the day, amongst other things, as a way of disseminating the most up to date science in critical care. If you are fascinated about the story of the man behind Critical Care Reviews, you'll love listening to this. In this episode, Rob talks about: How Critical Care Reviews began as a simple website His anxiety when he sent the first newsletter How the website and newsletter developed into a scientific meeting The attraction of trialists with their RCTs to the growing Critical Care Reviews meeting The multi-media output of Critical Care Reviews The importance of a consistent reading habit with the medical literature The significance of high-quality production values for the Critical Care Reviews meeting His passion of sharing science to improve patient care How study investigators gain a slot at a Critical Care Reviews meeting What he requests from study investigators submitting a study The magical quality of significant study results being presented for the first time How Critical Care Reviews expanded to hold a meeting in Melbourne How he translates evidence into clinical practice What's unique about his ward round His thoughts on the teaching and sharing of non-clinical skills How his family provides solace from work How he uses running to manage his wellbeing (often in the dark) And, some closing advice Please enjoy listening to Rob Mac Sweeeney. Andrew Davies -------------------- About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to work, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing. -------------------- Relevant links Dr Rob Mac Sweeney Rob Mac Sweeney on LinkedIn Critical Care Reviews Critical Care Reviews 2025 (CCR25) Meeting - June 11-13, 2025 Critical Care Reviews Down Under 2025 (CCR Down Under 2025) Meeting - December 9-10, 2025 Critical Care Reviews Newsletter Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on X (Twitter): @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

This episode is a rebroadcast of Episode 3 (from 2017) featuring the late Professor Rinaldo Bellomo, who unexpectedly died in May 2025. There is also a personal tribute from me. Andrew Davies

In this episode, you'll hear from a wise and thoughtful paediatric intensivist. Michael Clifford is a Paediatric Intensivist and Anaesthetist from the Royal Children's Hospital and Monash Childrens Hospital, Melbourne. Mike has recently finished his term as a CICM Examiner for both the Paediatric Fellowship and the CICM Primary exams. He is a keen teacher with a passion for the basic sciences and how they can inform our clinical practise. He sees every ward round as an opportunity for teaching the primary syllabus - and reminding non-paediatricians of the wonders of breast milk. He is a regular on the Paediatrica Intensiva podcast and has also appeared on Swapnil Pawar's ICU Primary prepcast. More recently he has become an open advocate of discsussions around neurodivergence and mental health in doctors in anaesthesia and critical care. In our conversation, Michael talks about: How he became a paediatric intensivist and why he loves it The essential differences between managing children and adults His thoughts on interacting with the parents of sick children How his ward rounds have changed His mental health experience in recent times Remembering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic What he's observed with mental health awareness Modern adaptations to sick leave in doctors How he looks after his health The benefits of no longer drinking alcohol What brings him joy, particularly at work The value of a human-oriented approach to ICU care What older intensivists might do Career advice for trainees and fellows Thank you for listening to Dr Michael Clifford. Andrew Davies -------------------- About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to work, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing. -------------------- Relevant links Dr Michael Clifford Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on X (Twitter): @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

My guest in this episode is Dr Jeram Hyde, an intensivist in Newcastle with a special interest in teaching non-technical skills. Jeram is the force behind an annual Trainee Education Day, run by the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, and which I attended this year. Jeram has been building this meeting over recent years from a single ICU's annual meeting to educate their trainees on non-clinical topics like work-life balance, communication and civility to one that is now sponsored by the CICM and attracts people from all over the state of New South Wales. Apart from working as an intensivist, Jeram holds masters degrees in business and human resource management. In his free time he enjoys paragliding and rock climbing. We recorded this interview whilst I was in Newcastle and we talked about the philosophy of the Education Day, the benefits of teaching these non-technical skills, and how the meeting has grown. Jeram also talked about the fear that prompted his choice to become an ICU doctor, what he values in fostering team culture, and what he looks for when conducting interviews for ICU trainee roles. Thank you for listening to my conversation with Dr Jeram Hyde. Andrew Davies -------------------- About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to work, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing. -------------------- Relevant links Dr Jeram Hyde Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on X (Twitter): @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

My guest in this episode is Dr Emily Amos, a general practitioner and a passionate educator on mindfulness in Melbourne. Emily might not be an intensivist but she is a doctor with a powerful burnout story that led to her becoming an enthusiastic guide and teacher about mindfulness and self care. Emily has roles as a GP, a surgical assistant, a lactation consultant, a yoga teacher, a university tutor and a registered mindfulness meditation teacher. Her business, Whole Hearted Medicine, runs mindfulness & self care retreats for doctors. These immersive, CPD approved retreats offer doctors the chance to learn skills in mindfulness, meditation and self compassion away from both work and family pressures. Emily also blogs, speaks, podcasts, runs workshops, and offers several courses through her website www.dremilyamos.com. Emily provides excellent perspectives on burnout, wellbeing, mindfulness, stress management, life balance and psychological safety. On this episode, Emily openly shares her vivid recollection of the day her life fell apart, what she discovered about herself during her recovery, and, most importantly, how this fuelled her subsequent drive to guide and support people, including doctors, through mindfulness-based self care. Thank you for listening to Dr Emily Amos. Andrew Davies -------------------- About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to work, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing. -------------------- Relevant links Dr Emily Amos Emily Amos website with links to courses, podcast, blog and other useful material Emily Amos on Instagram Emily Amos on Facebook Emily's mind.life.me podcast Whole Hearted Medicine retreats Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on X (Twitter): @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

My guest in this episode is Dr Peter Brindley, an intensivist in Edmonton, Canada. Peter is a tenured full Professor of Critical Care Medicine, Anesthesiology, and Medical Ethics, with over 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts, over 30 book chapters, and over 100 other articles, including regular opinion pieces for the British Medical Journal. He has written one book and co-hosts a podcast (The Critical Care Commute). He has presented to audiences in 15 countries during appoximately 650 invited presentations, 50 plenaries and 10 named lectures. He is convinced happiness comes from finding meaning and showing gratitude. He is proudest of two feral kids, neither of whom give a hoot about his work-related achievements. Peter was previously featured in episode 15 as well as in the Persevering Through A Pandemic series from 2021. These episodes are well worth listening to. Given he was in Australia for the Annual Scientific Meeting of the CICM, I thought I had to have him on the show again. In this episode, Peter talks about why he's a doctor and why he stays working where he does, before touching on a variety of topics including clinical leadership, imposter syndrome, the differing skills of the people making up our teams, efficiency, understanding when patients are dying, podcasting, wellbeing and parting advice. Thank you for listening to Dr Peter Brindley. Andrew Davies -------------------- About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to work, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing. -------------------- Relevant links Peter Brindley, MD, FRCPC (Canada), FRCP (Lond), FRCP (Edin) Critical Care Commute podcast Opinion piece "Diagnosing dying: is it time for doctors to write 'dying certificates'?" (by Peter Brindley & Matt Morgan) Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 15 with Peter Brindley Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Persevering Through A Pandemic - Series Trailer Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Persevering Through A Pandemic - 1 - Sick Of COVID Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Persevering Through A Pandemic - 2 - It Was Inconceivable Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Persevering Through A Pandemic - 3 - Ultramarathon Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Persevering Through A Pandemic - 4 - Best & Worst Year Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Persevering Through A Pandemic - 5 - 'Life' Support For Our People Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Persevering Through A Pandemic - 6 - Learnings We Might Take Away Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on X (Twitter): @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

Mastering Intensive Care is back after a long hiatus between episodes, and a fun divergence into a series about at athletic adventure. This episode features Dr Andrew Holt, a highly experienced intensivist at Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide, who was one of the mentors who significantly shaped my career. You'll discover why Andrew was pivotal in my journey, what he sees as the key aspects of a good intensivist, what he has done in coaching and supporting trainees, how he was nearly waylaid by an early career mishap, and what's been profoundly challenging him in recent years. This conversation is personal, candid, sombre and essential listening - even if it has taken me longer to publish than I would have liked. I'm grateful to Andrew for courageously and vulnerably sharing his recent difficulties in amongst some valuable lessons and wisdom. Thank you for listening to Dr Andrew Holt. Andrew Davies -------------------- About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing. -------------------- Relevant links Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on X (Twitter): @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

Thank you for listening to the ninth and final episode of the Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta series. If you've listened to the series, you'll know my friend Ed Litton and I entered a four-day stage trail running event, the Run Larapinta Stage Race, and ran, climbed, descended, scrambled and walked with 200 other enthusiastic participants along a mountainous and rugged trail in the spectacular red centre of Australia. Ed and I thought these conversations on the podcast might help others in setting and completing endurance exercise challenges, something we both prioritise in supporting our well-being to keep bringing our best selves to work in the ICU. In this episode, we thought we'd record a final episode to reflect on how we have recovered, what the whole experience meant, what we learned from the challenge and what might be next for each of us? Thank you for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Relevant links Image Credit: James Tudor from Forktail Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Ed Litton on Strava Andrew Davies on Strava Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 2  Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 3 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 4 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 5 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 6 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 7 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 8 Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies

This is the 8th episode of the "Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta" series and if you've been listening to the previous ones, you'll know that this episode is coming out after the four day stage race that fellow intensivist Ed Litton and I set ourselves the challenge of running many months ago. Two Intensive Care doctors, both novices at trail running, looking for something moderately hard, something we could do together, and something we could talk about on the show to hopefully inspire you and other listeners to go for a run or to set yourself your own exercise challenge. We've had regular conversations in the lead up to the event, held from August 24th-27th, on the spectacular Larapinta trail, near Alice Springs in the red centre of Australia, and now it's time to tell you how it all played out. Did we make it? Were there obstacles? How hard was it? And did it measure up to our expectations? Thanks for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Relevant links Image Credit: James Tudor from Forktail Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Ed Litton on Strava Andrew Davies on Strava Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 2  Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 3 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 4 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 5 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 6 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 7 Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies

Fellow intensivist Ed Litton and I signed up for a big challenge 10 months ago when we registered to run in the Run Larapinta, a 4-day stage race in central Australia. We've both completed many endurance events, however neither of us have done any serious trail running nor have we ever run 130km in 4 days on a rocky and mountainous trail like the beautiful Larapinta trail in the Northern Territory of Australia. It's now only a week away so Ed and I had a conversation to update each other on our recent training before answering 5 questions we thought were worth asking each other at this final stage of our preparations. What's worked well in our preparations? What's not worked well in our preparations? What's the focus of the remaining time? What have we learned from taking on this challenge? What is exciting us about the upcoming challenge? We hope you'll enjoy listening to the conversation, and that it might inspire you to get out for a run or for any type of exercise that suits you. Thanks for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Relevant links Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Ed Litton on Strava Andrew Davies on Strava Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 2  Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 3 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 4 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 5 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 6 Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

To help Ed Litton and I get really prepared for the Run Larapinta stage race we are only a few weeks away from competing in, today we bring a seasoned ultra trail running doctor on to the podcast to share her advice. In this sixth episode of the Mastering Intensive Challenges series, we welcome Dr Cheryl Martin, who is an Emergency Medicine specialist, a podcaster and has huge experience in trail running, including ultra marathons. Cheryl's podcast, the Mind Full Medic podcast, explores health, wellbeing, optimal performance and professional fulfilment, with a focus on doctors and healthcare. I love listening to it, and the best bit for me is that Cheryl has interviewed a bunch of endurance athletes including several high performing ultra runners. Today we thought we'd ask Cheryl lots of questions about our training and our preparations including heat adaptation, nutrition, footwear and other aspects that will hopefully help us to complete this event successfully. We hope you'll enjoy listening to the conversation, especially if you are a trail runner yourself. If not, hopefully it might inspire you to get out for a run or for any type of exercise that suits you. Thanks for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing   ---------------------   Relevant links Dr Cheryl Martin on LinkedIn Cheryl Martin on Twitter: @mindfullmedic  Cheryl Martin on Instagram: @themindfullmedicpodcast  Cheryl Martin on Strava The Mind Full Medic podcast The Mind Full Medic podcast - Episode with Dr Kellie Angel Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Ed Litton on Strava Andrew Davies on Strava Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 2  Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 3 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 4 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 5 Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

This is the fifth episode in the Mastering Intensive Care - Run Larapinta series. Ed Litton and I are back on opposite sides of Australia, and neither of us has had the perfect three weeks since we last chatted. There are now less than seven weeks until the event starts, so we chat about our training, then swing over to what we are each thinking about the logistical challenges we will be presented with. We hope you'll enjoy listening to the conversation, even if you prefer the couch to your running shoes. If we can inspire you to get out for some exercise, that would be even better. Thanks for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing. --------------------   Relevant links Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Ed Litton on Strava Andrew Davies on Strava Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 2 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 3 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 4 Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

Here is another episode in the Mastering Intensive Care - Run Larapinta series. For this one, I travelled to Perth to meet with my Run Larapinta co-participant Ed Litton and to head out for a few runs together over a three day weekend. We also set up the microphones to update each other with our preparations and to discuss our perspectives on the social aspects of exercise, mainly endurance sport. We talked about group training, family support, and even using the social media platform Strava to share inspiration. We hope you'll enjoy listening to the conversation, whatever exercise you choose to do. Thanks for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Relevant links Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Ed Litton on Strava Andrew Davies on Strava Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 2 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 3 Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

This is a follow on episode as Ed Litton and I continue our discussion about the Run Larapinta Stage Race we will be participating in soon. Ed and I tell each other how our running training is going. Then we talk about our general views on nutrition and sleep, especially as we lead into a multi-day endurance event. One of us has picked up a little niggle. And each of us has a different approach to what we consume during long runs. It might not be what we talk about on regular episodes of Mastering Intensive Care but we hope you'll enjoy listening to the conversation, whether you run, walk, cycle, hike, workout in the gym, or do whatever is your style of physical activity. Thanks for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Relevant links Book "Community" (by Hetty McKinnon) Book "Eat & Run" (by Scott Jurek) Rich Roll podcast Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 2 Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

This episode features the wise perspectives of an Advanced Trainee in Intensive Care Medicine, Dr William Bonavia. The discussion covers: Why he chose medicine and Intensive Care His training journey and his learning strategy What makes a good ward round Learning from colleagues The principles of good communication and collaboration The value of work being fun Making mistakes Dealing with the pressures of the job His thoughts on sleep, exercise, resilience and burnout Gender inequity in training The future of his career Tips for fellow trainees Will Bonavia is an Intensive Care Trainee at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and has previously worked at Peninsula Health ICU. He has an interest in teaching, having previously played a role in tutorial, simulation and workshop environments, as well as coordinating a training program for ICU trainees sitting the CICM first part examination. He is also interested in staff welfare and has worked as a trainee representative within his intensive care department at Peninsula Health.   Will has an interest in the long term outcomes of ICU patients and has published research in the area of delirium prediction models. He is currently working on research in the area of persistent critical illness and long term outcomes of critically ill ICU patients with COVID-19. Outside of work, Will enjoys a rotating roster of hobbies but is currently an avid squash enthusiast.  Will has a highly compassionate and careful communication-focused approach. Whether you are a trainee, a fully fledged consultant or someone else involved in the practice of Intensive Care, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr Will Bonavia. Andrew Davies -------------------- About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing. -------------------- Relevant links Life In The Fast Lane Book "One Billion Years to the End of the World" (by Arkady Strugatsky & Boris Strugatsky) Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

In this second of a different style episode, Ed Litton and I continue our discussion about the Run Larapinta Stage Race we will be embarking on in August 2023.  Ed and I talk about our preparation and then tell each other why we run, and what we get out of it. Ed is a multi-sport endurance athlete whose reasons for getting out in nature are deep and truly inspiring. We hope you'll enjoy hearing this conversation, whether you run, walk, cycle, hike, work out in the gym, or do whatever is your style of physical activity. Thanks for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Relevant links Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

This episode features the memories, experiences and wisdom of Dr Lindsay 'Tub' Worthley, AM. The discussion covers the following: Tub's training to become an intensivist when no specific training existed His experience at a time when Australian ICUs were in their infancy The difference between the beginning and the end of his clinical career His eventual transition to retirement His writing of textbooks, scientific papers, editorials and a memoir What he learned about humanity in the ICU Working and communicating with various team members Enthusiastic leadership and the importance of a smooth-running team How he maintained his wellbeing His potential concern for the future of intensive care Some long-lasting career advice Tub worked as an intensive care medical specialist at the Royal Adelaide hospital ICU between 1971 and 1991, before moving to the Flinders Medical Centre ICU, where he worked until 2007. He retired from active clinical intensive care practice in 2009 although his legacy remains through his prolific writing (of scientific papers, editorials and books). Tub has been a passionate and highly respected postgraduate teacher in intensive care medicine, establishing and running the Adelaide Short Course on Intensive Care Medicine (known colloquially as "Tub's course) from 1983 – 2005. The course continues today and is now known as the South Australian CICM Fellowship Exam Course. He created the journal "Critical Care and Resuscitation" and was the inaugural Editor-In-Chief for 6 years. He has also served as President of ANZICS, as an examiner for several Colleges and as a convener of many conferences. Tub is married to Janice and has 3 sons and 8 grandchildren, all of who he loves dearly. In 2010 he was appointed as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for "Service to medical education, particularly in the area of intensive care medicine, as a clinician, mentor and educator, and through contributions to professional associations". His books are: - Worthley LIG. Synopsis of Intensive Care Medicine. London: Churchill Livingstone, 1994. - Worthley LIG. Handbook of Emergency Laboratory Tests. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1996. - Worthley LIG. Clinical examination of the critically ill patient, 3rd Ed. Melbourne: The Australasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine, 2006. - Worthley LIG. Inside God's shed: memoirs of an intensive care specialist. Adelaide: JANDL Holdings Pty Ltd, 2014. Most importantly, Tub was one of the consultants responsible for my training, so this episode is a big thrill for me. Thanks for listening to a true colossus of intensive care, Dr Tub Worthley. Andrew Davies -------------------- About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing. -------------------- Relevant links "Tub's Course"  Book "Inside God's shed: memoirs of an intensive care specialist" (by Lindsay Worthley) Journal "Critical Care and Resuscitation" Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 5 with Jamie Cooper Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

We are trying something different on Mastering Intensive Care. My friend and fellow intensivist Ed Litton has cajoled me into joining him in a running event. We will be running the Run Larapinta Stage Race in August 2023. In this episode, we commence a mini-series discussing our lead up to the event. Ed and I have different backgrounds as amateur endurance event participants, and in this episode, you'll hear some of Ed's endurance accomplishments, what the Run Larapinta event involves, and what we are both pondering as we start ramping up our training. If you are a runner, an endurance activity participant, a person who exercises regularly, or someone who enjoys hearing about other people's challenges, I hope you will enjoy listening in.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Relevant links Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

This episode features the thoughts and perspectives of A/Prof Chris Nickson. The topics covered include: How Chris became an intensivist and then an educator How he began working on Life In The Fast Lane (LITFL) The network of Clinical Educators he leads and the "Incubator" program Simulation and debriefing The current place of FOAM and podcasts in education What he tries to achieve on his ward round Clinical leadership, team dynamics and the necessity of psychological safety The difficulties of fatigue and undervaluing sleep Other aspects of personal wellbeing His reading (including a book recommendation) The future of Intensive Care, especially after COVID-19 Advice for new intensivists Advice on teaching the human aspects of ICU Chris Nickson is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at the Alfred ICU in Melbourne and a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University. He is the Lead for the ANZCEN Clinician Educator Incubator programme, a Director of the Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Foundation, and a First Part Examiner for the College of Intensive Care Medicine. He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives. After finishing his medical degree at the University of Auckland, he continued post-graduate training in New Zealand as well as Australia's Northern Territory, Perth and Melbourne. He has completed fellowship training in intensive care medicine and emergency medicine; and post-graduate training in biochemistry, clinical toxicology, clinical epidemiology, and health professions education. Chris is involved in the Alfred ICU's education and simulation programmes and runs the unit's education website, INTENSIVE. He created the 'Critically Ill Airway' course and teaches numerous courses worldwide. He is one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) and is co-creator of litfl.com, the RAGE podcast, the Resuscitology course, and the SMACC conference. His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.  On Twitter, he is @precordialthump. Thanks for listening to my conversation with Chris Nickson.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Links related to Chris Nickson Chris Nickson at Life In The Fast Lane Chris Nickson on Twitter: @precordialthump Chris Nickson on LinkedIn Life In The Fast Lane Intensive blog   Links to other resources (in order of mentioning) David Galler Mike Cadogan Aequanimitas Clinician Educator Incubator program Cameron Knott Manisa Ghani Deb Massey Kylie Moon Steve Philpot FOAM Scott Weingart EMCrit  Academic Life In Emergency Medicine blog SMACC conference Deranged Physiology Steve McGloughlin Marcus Aurelius William Osler Book "How The World Really Works" (by Vaclav Smil) Bill Gates   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 5 with Jamie Cooper Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 45 with Scott Weingart Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 59 with Steve McLoughlin Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 63 with Steve Philpot Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

Mastering Intensive Care is returning from being offline for a full 12 months. In this episode, I ask you to ponder, "how are you going?" after the lengthy pandemic, which has lulled after the worst of the storm but has not yet settled into a state of calm. Whilst few intensive care clinicians have actively diminished what we've been through over the last few years, the relentless world of Intensive Care continues unabated. There have been many learnings from the pandemic, but we mustn't sweep the emotions we've witnessed under the carpet. As you listen to this shorter episode than usual, I hope you'll ponder questions about how you have managed yourself during the pandemic, both individually and in your local ICU community. I share what I've witnessed in myself and my colleagues before offering a few thoughts on where we might focus our actions in recovering from what we've been through. Thank you for listening as I use this opportunity to reinvigorate this podcast after 12 months of languishing.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower Intensive Care clinicians through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care to bring their best selves to work by focusing on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   -------------------- Links to resources discussed (in order of mentioning) Article in New York Times "There's a Name for the Blah You're Feeling: It's Called Languishing" (by Adam Grant) Article in New York Times "There's a Specific Kind of Joy We've Been Missing" (by Adam Grant) Mastering Intensive Care episode - Persevering Through A Pandemic - 1 - Sick Of COVID Mastering Intensive Care episode - Persevering Through A Pandemic - 2 - It Was Inconceivable Mastering Intensive Care episode - Persevering Through A Pandemic - 3 - Ultramarathon Mastering Intensive Care episode - Persevering Through A Pandemic - 4 - Best & Worst Year Mastering Intensive Care episode - Persevering Through A Pandemic - 5 - 'Life' Support For Our People Mastering Intensive Care episode - Persevering Through A Pandemic - 6 - Learnings We Might Take Away   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

This episode focuses on learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic. Important lessons our global Intensive Care community, your local ICU and you personally might take away from what the novel coronavirus has caused - at least so far. Previous episodes of this series (a series best listened to in episode order) have allowed you to hear the experiences of busy ICU clinicians, the work of an ICU clinical psychologist, and some supportive strategies different institutions have used during the pandemic. Here you'll listen to the valuable thoughts and considerations about topics including personal wellbeing, awareness of mindset, effects on healthcare workers as a group and even some possible gains from the pandemic hardship. In this sixth episode of the "Persevering Through A Pandemic" series, the guests (in order of appearance) are Dr Rana Awdish, Dr Hayley Gershengorn, Dr Laura Rock, Dr Wes Ely, CCRN Simone Hannah-Clark, Dr Peter Brindley, Dr Matt Morgan, Dr Hugh Montgomery, Dr Georg Auzinger and Dr Julie Highfield. I firmly believe that ICU clinicians across the world need to spend time reflecting, processing or simply healing from this pandemic. Reinvigorating ourselves from the difficulties we've suffered and restoring ourselves for whatever is to come. My hope is this episode will help you to do this. Thank you for listening to these wise and thoughtful Intensive Care clinicians speak about how they've been "Persevering Through A Pandemic".   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower Intensive Care clinicians through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care to bring their best selves to work by focusing on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   -------------------- Links to featured guests (in order of appearance) Dr Rana Awdish Dr Rana Awdish on Twitter @RanaAwdish Dr Hayley Gershengorn Dr Hayley Gershengorn on Twitter @HBGMD Dr Laura Rock Dr Laura Rock on Twitter @drlaurarock Dr Wes Ely Dr Wes Ely on Twitter @WesElyMD CCRN Simone Hannah-Clark CCRN Simone Hannah-Clark on Twitter @kiwi_yankee Dr Peter Brindley Dr Peter Brindley on Twitter @docpgb Dr Matthew Morgan Dr Matthew Morgan on Twitter @dr_mattmorgan Dr Hugh Montgomery Dr Hugh Montgomery on Twitter @hugh_montgomery Dr Georg Auzinger Dr Julie Highfield Dr Julie Highfield on Twitter @DrJulie_H   Links to other resources (in order of mentioning) Book "Every Deep-Drawn Breath" (by Wes Ely)   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 15 with Peter Brindley Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 33 with Wes Ely Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 36 with Hayley Gershengorn Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 41 with Rana Awdish Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 47 with Matt Morgan Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 48 with Laura Rock Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 49 with Hugh Montgomery Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 57 with Georg Auzinger Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 60 with Simone Hannah-Clark Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

Intensive Care clinicians are used to being busy. Critically ill patients constantly arrive in the ICU with no awareness of staff workload at that moment. So being busy has not been the major problem of the COVID-19 pandemic. The difficult emotional responses to physical exhaustion, mental strain, heart-breaking human loss and the unpredictability of SARS-CoV-2 have been significant, and the commonly held attitude of "just power through" has not been sustainable. Instead, the most critical influence on the overall wellbeing of Intensive Care practitioners has been the degree to which they have felt supported socially. Maintaining social support and cohesion is hard. Intensive Care professionals have often depended on social support through camaraderie and workplace culture yet have been crying out during this healthcare crisis to hospital administrators, often in vain, for direct and valuable supportive measures for staff wellbeing. The pandemic has therefore required a more healing and individual-focused type of supportive strategy. Coming up with successful strategies is not easy and a specific strategy will not support all individuals in all contexts. So, ICU teams have had to try a mixture of strategies, philosophies, support groups, or simply caring attitudes to provide effective staff wellbeing support. In this fifth episode of the "Persevering Through A Pandemic" series, you'll hear some of the types of supportive actions that my guests in this series have witnessed in their ICUs and hospitals. My guests on the episode (in order of appearance) are Dr Hugh Montgomery, Dr Rana Awdish, CCRN Simone Hannah-Clark, Dr Hayley Gershengorn, Dr Laura Rock, Dr Matt Morgan, Dr Peter Brindley, Dr Wes Ely and Dr Georg Auzinger. There is so much we can learn from the COVID-19 pandemic. My hope is this episode will help you as a listener to reflect on and to process your own pandemic experience whilst hearing lessons you might take away to your Intensive Care community. Thank you for listening to these wise and thoughtful Intensive Care clinicians tell you how they've been "Persevering Through A Pandemic".   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower Intensive Care clinicians through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care to bring their best selves to work by focusing on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   -------------------- Links to featured guests (in order of appearance) Dr Hugh Montgomery Dr Hugh Montgomery on Twitter @hugh_montgomery Dr Rana Awdish Dr Rana Awdish on Twitter @RanaAwdish CCRN Simone Hannah-Clark CCRN Simone Hannah-Clark on Twitter @kiwi_yankee Dr Hayley Gershengorn Dr Hayley Gershengorn on Twitter @HBGMD Dr Laura Rock Dr Laura Rock on Twitter @drlaurarock Dr Matthew Morgan Dr Matthew Morgan on Twitter @dr_mattmorgan Dr Peter Brindley Dr Peter Brindley on Twitter @docpgb Dr Wes Ely Dr Wes Ely on Twitter @WesElyMD Dr Georg Auzinger   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 15 with Peter Brindley Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 33 with Wes Ely Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 36 with Hayley Gershengorn Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 41 with Rana Awdish Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 47 with Matt Morgan Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 48 with Laura Rock Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 49 with Hugh Montgomery Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 57 with Georg Auzinger Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 60 with Simone Hannah-Clark Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

The physical, mental and emotional burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on Intensive Care clinicians has been colossal. Many ICU staff, of all types and at all levels, have suffered significant psychological effects. After hearing the pandemic experiences and perspectives of bedside clinicians in recent episodes, the focus of today's episode is a clinical psychologist who's been working inside several busy ICUs and supported hundreds of people across the United Kingdom during the pandemic. In this fourth episode of the "Persevering Through A Pandemic" series, you'll hear the thoughts of Dr Julie Highfield who has led a national UK-based wellbeing program in response to COVID-19. Dr Highfield works as a consultant clinical psychologist in several ICUs in Wales and has an additional role as the National Wellbeing Director for the Intensive Care Society in the UK. In this episode Julie talks about: The first year of the pandemic feeling like the best and worst year of her life Her witnessing of ICU staff "just getting on with it" and "shelving their feelings" The types of support she provided – in both her local ICUs and across the UK Which support worked best for which staff The value of one-on-one sessions - yet their impracticality in a pandemic The types of group sessions she led Two typical examples of who Julie has been supporting What surprised her about the ICU teams The rise in the number of UK ICUs with a clinical psychologist The value of having a clinical psychologist embedded in an ICU How Julie fared herself during the height of the pandemic Her thoughts on the restrictions to visitors caused by COVID-19 The lingering effects of this pandemic Advice for people who are considering championing wellbeing in their ICUs.   The culture around wellbeing in our ICUs is slowly changing and the effects of the COVID-19 may accelerate this. A good psychologist is vital to stimulating that change and to providing valuable assistance. My hope is that this episode, as part of a focused series of episodes, will help Intensive Care clinicians to reflect on their own experiences and to learn valuable lessons about psychological aspects of the pandemic. Thank you for listening to the wise and supportive Dr Julie Highfield, an ideal person to share perspectives on how ICU clinicians have been "Persevering Through A Pandemic".   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower Intensive Care clinicians through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care to bring their best selves to work by focusing on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Links to featured guests Dr Julie Highfield Julie Highfield on Twitter @DrJulie_H Wellbeing Hub at Intensive Care Society website Psychologists In Critical Care UK (PINC-UK)   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

Whilst some people choose to run long distances, caring for patients in the ICU is not supposed to feel like an ultramarathon. If you work in the complex, high stress, emotion-generating environment of an ICU, it might sometimes feel like you are the logistics organiser of an ultimate endurance event, but you should hardly feel like you are a competitor. Yet when COVID-19 arrived, the initial sprint became a marathon and that's now turned into a seemingly never-ending ultramarathon. In this third episode of the "Persevering Through A Pandemic" series, you'll hear about this pandemic ultramarathon and the effects it's had on the people working in ICUs in the UK. A period which has been physically and emotionally difficult yet has provided glimpses of career satisfaction along the journey. Amongst other topics, UK intensivists Drs Matt Morgan, Hugh Montgomery & Georg Auzinger talk honestly about their worst pandemic days, the discomfort that they and their colleagues felt, how their teams kept afloat in such an overwhelming situation and the lingering effects on clinician mental health. There is mention of an interesting letter one of them sent and a special kind of chocolate cake! My hope is this will help you as a listener to reflect on and to process your own pandemic experience whilst hearing lessons you might take away to your Intensive Care community. Thank you for listening to these wise and thoughtful Intensive Care clinicians tell you how they've been "Persevering Through A Pandemic".   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower Intensive Care clinicians through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care to bring their best selves to work by focusing on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Links to featured guests Dr Matthew Morgan Matt Morgan on Twitter @dr_mattmorgan Book "Critical" (by Matt Morgan) Matt Morgan – Previous episode on Mastering Intensive Care Dr Hugh Montgomery Hugh Montgomery on Twitter @hugh_montgomery Hugh Montgomery – Previous episode on Mastering Intensive Care Dr Georg Auzinger Georg Auzinger – Previous episode on Mastering Intensive Care   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

Just like a surf beach shore, waves of COVID-19 keep crashing over the world's Intensive Care Units. The waves have been unpredictable and pattern less, ravaging the ICUs and the people that work in them, often inconceivably. In this second episode of the "Persevering Through A Pandemic" series, you'll hear from Intensive Care professionals about the COVID-19 pandemic which continues to affect ICUs across the globe. Amongst other topics, US intensivists Drs Rana Awdish & Dr Hayley Gershengorn, and Critical Care nurse Simone Hannah-Clark talk honestly about their worst pandemic days, the feelings of guilt, fear, anxiety and overall depletion, the effects on their family, what they witnessed in their struggling colleagues and how they dealt with the strain. You'll also hear valuable thoughts on the nursing perspective, the difficult experience of being a patient in a pandemic, and the tension between the support from the community and the flagrant COVID-19 deniers. There have been many emotional and heart-breaking conversations in ICUs all over the world during this pandemic. And we as their healthcare providers have emotions to express too. My belief is that we need to have conversations as colleagues, and as an Intensive Care community, about what we have been and are continuing to go through. My hope is that this series will help you as a listener to reflect on and to process your own pandemic experience whilst hearing lessons you might take away to your Intensive Care community. Thank you for listening to these wise and thoughtful Intensive Care clinicians tell you how they've been "Persevering Through A Pandemic".   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower Intensive Care clinicians through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care to bring their best selves to work by focusing on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Links to featured guests Dr Rana Awdish Rana Awdish on Twitter @RanaAwdish Book "In Shock" (by Rana Awdish) Rana Awdish – Previous episode on Mastering Intensive Care Dr Hayley Gershengorn Hayley Gershengorn on Twitter @HBGMD Hayley Gershengorn – Previous episode on Mastering Intensive Care CCRN Simone Hannah-Clark Simone Hannah-Clark on Twitter @kiwi_yankee Simone Hannah-Clark – Previous episode on Mastering Intensive Care   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

Are you sick of COVID? How have you coped in this pandemic? And what's it actually felt like to live and work throughout this last two years?   Concerned for the wellbeing of healthcare professionals in the hardest hit ICUs during the COVID-19 pandemic, I interviewed a group of clinicians previously featured on the podcast. With an emphasis on personal wellbeing, I aimed to uncover their feelings, their struggles, their perspectives and their take-aways from this prolonged global healthcare crisis. My hope is to help you to reflect on and to process your own pandemic experience and to hear lessons you might take away to your Intensive Care community. In this first episode of a series focusing on Intensive Care clinician wellbeing during the pandemic, you'll hear the voices of Dr Laura Rock, Dr Peter Brindley and Dr Wes Ely. Thank you for listening to these wise and thoughtful Intensive Care clinicians tell you how they've been "Persevering Through A Pandemic".   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower Intensive Care clinicians through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care to bring their best selves to work by focusing on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Links to featured guests Dr Laura Rock Dr Laura Rock on Twitter @drlaurarock Dr Laura Rock – Previous episode on Mastering Intensive Care Dr Peter Brindley Dr Peter Brindley on Twitter @docpgb Dr Peter Brindley – Previous episode on Mastering Intensive Care Dr Wes Ely Dr Wes Ely on Twitter @WesElyMD Book "Every Deep-Drawn Breath" (by Wes Ely) Dr Wes Ely – Previous episode on Mastering Intensive Care   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

I'm trying something different on Mastering Intensive Care. Welcome to a special series named "Persevering Through A Pandemic". Aghast at the stories I'd heard from Intensive Care colleagues amid large COVID-19 surges I approached several previous podcast guests in countries that had been harder hit than Australia. Concerned for their wellbeing I asked if they'd talk to me about what they'd been going through to help me understand how the health professionals in the busiest ICUs had been coping. They willingly shared their stories and reflections on many aspects of their experience. Their feelings, their struggles, their teammates, their learnings, their take-aways. The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. Please listen in over the next 6 weekly episodes as a group of wise and thoughtful Intensive Care clinicians tell you how they have been "Persevering Through A Pandemic".   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower Intensive Care clinicians through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care to bring their best selves to work by focusing on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.

Mastering Intensive Care is back after a lengthy break with an episode featuring senior ICU dietitian Dr Emma Ridley. Emma is a Senior Research Fellow and a NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre (ANZIC-RC) at Monash University in Melbourne, where she leads the Nutrition Program. Emma has 16 years of clinical dietetic experience, including as a senior dietitian in the ICU at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, and over 13 years of research experience, including the awarding of her PhD. Her research interests include energy requirements across the hospitalisation period, the clinical application of indirect calorimetry and the effect of optimal nutrition delivery on short and long-term outcomes in ICU patients. Emma is a long-time colleague of mine, someone I have huge respect for, and a woman that seems to fit a lot into a busy life and career. I was keen to talk to Emma for the podcast so I could ask about topics such as how she sees dietitians best fitting into the ICU team, what her thoughts are on communication between different ICU staff roles and what is required for a dietitian to be a valuable advocate for ICU patient nutrition. Emma also has some important insights from the difficult experience of having her recently newborn son admitted to the NICU. This episode is not just for dietitians. Emma is such a wise and thoughtful healthcare leader that there are pertinent perspectives in this conversation that will help doctors, nurses and practitioners in any Intensive Care role. The list of topics Emma discussed include: How she became a dietitian in Intensive Care Her reflections on the pace of an ICU The importance of dietitians and doctors understanding each others "language" How she feels dietitians best fit into the ICU team Advocating for ICU patient nutrition at the bedside The importance of dietitians being present at the ICU ward round Working with the different members of the ICU team Optimal communication between colleagues The importance of getting to know your colleagues Talking to patients and their families Why she was fascinated by research and how this has helped her clinical practice Why she feels research allows her to have a greater impact The benefits of embedding nutrition research in an ICU Her interest in nutrition at the time when ICU patients are transitioning out of the ICU The differences between leadership, mentorship and sponsorship The effects of the pandemic on her role Her work to assist nutrition for critically ill patients with COVID Managing personal safety and wellbeing during the pandemic The experience of her newborn son being admitted to the NICU Fitting everything in to a busy life The value of work flexibility and how this affects her clinical work capacity Her closing advice to less experienced ICU practitioners   Thanks for listening to my conversation with Emma Ridley.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the work, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Links related to Emma Ridley Dr Emma Ridley at ANZIC RC Emma Ridley on Twitter @ICUnutrition ANZIC Research Centre   Links to other resources (in order of mentioning) ANZICS Clinical Trials Group Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 5 with Jamie Cooper Guideline for Nutritional Management of COVID patients Media and Medicine Program at Harvard Medical School 
 Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

This episode features Professor David Tuxen, a pioneer of Intensive Care in Australia, who recently retired after 38 years at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. David trained in both respiratory and intensive care medicine, and became the Alfred's ICU Director at a young age. He led the development of one of Australia's first mega-ICUs before standing down after over 20 years as Director to re-energise his passion for teaching and research. David is a Professor at Monash University, still works as an intensivist at Albury Hospital and previously served in leadership roles including President of ANZICS and Chairman of the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Foundation. He is globally renowned for his teaching and research on many aspects of mechanical ventilation. David was my first ICU Director, and he rapidly became, and remains, a wise, enthusiastic and long-standing mentor to me. I have particularly admired his excellent clinical skills and specifically his attention to detail so I am thrilled he agreed to appear on the podcast. Given many people in Australia and New Zealand know David by his nickname "Tux" it shouldn't surprise you to know that David likes to have fun and bring humour to most occasions. In this episode, David's principle message is not to be serious at all times during a day at work, and to keep up an active social life, including with colleagues, in the periods between work. David delivers a lot of other great advice in this episode, as he talks about topics including: Becoming an ICU Director at a young age The changes he's witnessed over his career Which patients we sometimes over-treat in our ICUs Resolving differing opinions about patient prognoses The value of thorough physical examination in ICU Building rapport with families, especially for end of life conversations His experience in being filmed for a reality TV series Communicating with patient's families Ward round teaching Tips for presenting a good talk The differences between working in a tertiary and a regional centre ICU What he thinks best maintains his wellbeing The toll of work on his family life   Tux has led a high-achieving, well-respected and clinically-orientated career. It's a great privilege to have him on the podcast. I hope you will enjoy listening to David Tuxen.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Links related to this episode David Tuxen on Twitter @TuxenDavid Audio of talk by David Tuxen on the history of the Alfred ICU Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Foundation Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

In this episode the focus is on our Intensive Care friends in the UK and what they are going through right now with COVID-19. My guest is Rupert Pearse, a Professor and Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine at Barts Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary University of London. He works at the Royal London Hospital, which was at the epicentre of the first wave and now the second COVID wave in East London. Rupert's recent work on Twitter through public health messaging has been outstanding and you can follow him @Rupert_Pearse. Despite being terribly busy in London, Rupert willingly gave his time to talk about: How the cases of COVID-19 are tracking right now How the logistical challenge is being gradually replaced by important reflection What the Royal London Hospital ICU did to deal with the surge The ongoing research they've been doing during the pandemic Why the Nightingale hospitals of the first wave seemed to struggle The stress and strain associated with diluting the nurse to patient ratio The difficulty with blending leadership structures during an intense period How they have maintained their ICU culture The struggle of his colleagues caring for themselves as healthcare professionals His advice to less affected areas of the world Why he changed his approach to delivering public health messages for the second wave The principles he follows when speaking to the media How he describes this period of his career.   I hope you will find value from listening to Rupert Pearse.   Andrew Davies   -------------------- About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Links related to Rupert Pearse Rupert Pearse Rupert Pearse on Twitter @rupert_pearse Royal London Hospital   Links to other resources (in order of mentioning) Twitter prose posted by Rupert Pearse Recovery trial REMAP-CAP trial   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

This wide-ranging episode, covering many angles of how we should consider doing less interventions to our patients and more transparent communication to their families, features US intensivist Todd Rice. Dr Todd Rice, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in Nashville, Tennessee. Todd is a clinical intensivist, the Director of the Medical ICU (MICU) and the Medical ECMO Program, and leads VUMC's MICU strategy for the care of COVID-19 patients. In addition, Todd leads a substantial research program as a clinician scientist, and is co-chair of the Learning Healthcare System at Vanderbilt where the motto is "Learn What We Do and Do What We Learn." Professionally, he is proud of the evidence he has generated to improve the care of critically ill patients and the mentorship he has provided to other physician scientists. He loves ice hockey (watching, not playing) and is completely into enjoying life with his two sons. Todd graduated from the University of Notre Dame and completed Internal Medicine residency at Indiana University School of Medicine. He completed Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine fellowship training at Vanderbilt University where he obtained a Master's of Science in Clinical Investigation. Other roles Todd serves in include: President of the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Vice President for Clinical Trial Innovation and Operations in the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (VICTR) Critical care principal investigator for the Prevention and Early Treatment of Acute Lung injury (PETAL) clinical center at VUMC Medical Director of VUMC's Human Research Protections Program Todd and I recorded this conversation in March 2020, just before the COVID-19 impacted fully in our respective countries. I didn't feel I should put this episode out during the crisis of 2020 so I held it back until now. I also asked Todd if I could interview him a second time now (in February 2021) to freshen up the interview with some perspectives on how COVID-19 has affected he and his colleagues in Nashville. I hope you will gain immense value from what Todd speaks about on this episode, including: Why he's considered an ICU junkie and how he's changed over the years The principle of "Don't just do something, stand there" Understanding the confidence/competence balance His 4 box method of understanding a critically ill patient's situation The concept of the second victim with mistakes How transparency to families builds substantial trust Why he praises nurses in front of patient's families The structure of the ward round at his ICU The importance of empowering nurses to ask questions His note-writing practice, and it's benefits and risks His practice to look after himself during periods of clinical service The benefit of a mix of clinical and research work The importance of pragmatic trials studying things we are already doing His institution's Learning Healthcare System and how it is used Some overall career tips How COVID-19 has affected his ICU How the ICU team is taking care of each other His ICUs struggle with harsh visitor restrictions and how they relaxed these safely   Please enjoy listening to Todd Rice.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Links related to Todd Rice Todd Rice Todd Rice on Twitter @toddrice_icu   Links to other resources (in order of mentioning) ANZICS Clinical Trials Group ARDSnet low tidal volume strategy study EDEN study TARGET study PERMIT study   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

This first podcast episode of 2021 is my attempt to put into perspective at least some of what has happened over the whirlwind of the last 12 months. We can't control what happens to us, yet we can control our actions in response to our circumstances and we can learn from our experience. I feel like the whole experience of COVID has delivered a few important lessons for us as an Intensive Care community, so in this episode you'll hear 5 valuable lessons I have been reflecting on. In line with the theme of the podcast, I'll concentrate on what Intensive Care has learnt, rather than humanity in general. And although 2020 involved much discussion about various drugs, ventilator settings and other interventions, my curiosity is the human side of things. I'll therefore concentrate on how the novel coronavirus has affected us - as individual healthcare practitioners, as distinct ICUs, and as a greater intensive care community. I am aware many of you are still struggling with overwhelming situations where you work and I understand there is still much more pandemic in front of us all. In the meantime, I hope you will take some solace from listening as I take you through the biggest lessons I feel COVID-19 has taught us in Intensive Care. None are unique to my thinking. None are rocket science. They are simply worth speaking about if only so you might reflect on what I've noticed from my own 2020 professional experience as we move into the next part of this pandemic and eventually beyond it. I hope you'll listen to the podcast to hear the 5 lessons in full. They relate to: The human resources our ICUs contain The general community's perception of Intensive Care The downside of harsh visitor restrictions Healthcare worker safety, and The future of Intensive Care education You have likely reflected on other lessons. Please let me hear them. I'd also love to receive any feedback or comments you have. If you use Twitter, include my handle @andrewdavies66 and/or #masteringintensivecare. Or simply email me at [email protected]. I invite you to listen to the 5 valuable lessons COVID-19 taught Intensive Care in 2020.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing. -------------------- Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 60 with Simone Hannah-Clark Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 64 with Roger Harris & Oli Flower Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

Two inspiring and innovative educationalists, Dr Roger Harris and Dr Oliver Flower, are featured in this episode. Both of these Sydney intensivists are the force behind the recently created educational initiative named Coda, having previously been two members of the successful triumvirate who set up SMACC (Social Media and Critical Care). To my mind Oliver (or Oli) and Roger have led an educational revolution by utilising speakers with high level presentation skills and encouraging community engagement, through a blend of real life events, internet technology and social media, to bring us the type of innovative and entertaining educational platform we haven't previously seen in intensive or critical care. Dr Roger Harris is a senior staff specialist in the ICU at the Royal North Shore hospital and the Sydney Adventist hospital. He is dual qualified in Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care. He is passionate about education, his five children and especially his wife Georgie. He's on Twitter @RogerRdharris where his bio states he is "privileged to care for the critically ill." Dr Oli Flower is also an intensivist at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney. He's steered the creative side of SMACC & Coda, from the graphic design elements to the style, marketing, website and social platform strategies. He has an interest in neurocritical care and is on Twitter @oliflower where his bio states he is a "believer in the power of the big medical community". We recorded this in February 2020; just before the COVID-19 pandemic scuppered Oli and Roger's plans to release nearly 4000 tickets to the inaugural large-scale Coda event. Coda is aimed to be more like a festival than a conference and is not only for critical care practitioners but for a wider healthcare audience. The overall goal of Coda is to cover vital broader healthcare subject themes and to assist the assembled community to take meaningful actions as a result of what is discussed, the climate emergency being one of the first of these. When Coda was one of the earlier healthcare conferences to be postponed in the pandemic, I also held this podcast back until there could be firmer plans about any live Coda events. A meeting named Coda Zero Live has now been announced for 16-18 February 2021. This is an event in Sydney with both a live and a virtual audience. It now seemed appropriate to release this episode to help you know about Coda and to encourage you to attend or tune in to Coda Zero Live. This interview is well worth listening to as, despite no mention of COVID-19, you'll hear: The career backgrounds of Oli and Roger Roger's humility in training in a second speciality in the same hospital Both of their views on the mature culture and flattened hierarchy in their ICU at Royal North Shore Hospital Perspectives on gender equity as well as diversity and inclusion in an Intensive Care department The story behind the educational initiatives of SMACC and Coda The marginalisation of non-technical topics they noticed in most scientific meetings The growing appetite they were observing for these same topics The value of delegate feedback in directing educational initiatives How SMACC developed such an engaged community The vision for Coda including its initial themes of education, ethics, earth and cure The plans for tackling the climate emergency as a healthcare practitioner community Discussion about how a plant-rich diet is beneficial for both environmental and personal health What Oli and Roger have learnt from all these educational pursuits to help them at the bedside How they both stay balanced Some tips for less experienced clinicians   Please enjoy listening to Roger Harris & Oli Flower.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Links related to Roger Harris and Oli Flower Roger Harris Roger Harris on Twitter @RogerRdharris Oli Flower Oli Flower on Twitter @OliFlower Intensive Care Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital Coda Coda on Twitter Coda Zero Live Event - 16-18 February 2021 Intensive Care Network Intensive Care Network podcasts   Links to other resources (in order of mentioning) Chris Nickson SMACC Coda Coda Zero Live Queen Square Sydney HEMS Staff at Royal North Shore Hospital ICU Australasian Trauma Society Australasian College of Emergency Medicine College of Intensive Care Medicine SMACC Berlin Final Day Program Martin Bromiley Life In The Fast Lane Blog Intensive Care Network Simon Carley St Emlyn's Scott Weingart EMCrit Haney Mallemat Ken Milne SMACC Conference History ANZICS SCCM Rob MacSweeney Critical Care Reviews Conference Jesse Spurr Mary Freer New England Journal of Medicine John Hinds Coda Zero Episode 1: Cure - Pandemic Sepsis Coda Zero Episode 2: Ethics - Gender Video Coda Zero Episode 3: Educate - Communicating in the era of big data, AI and the "infodemic" Coda Zero Episode 4: Earth - A safe and healthy pandemic recovery Coda Zero Live Event - 16-18 February 2021 Safe Airway Society   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 21 with Martin Bromiley Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 28 with Simon Finfer Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 45 with Scott Weingart Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

The guest on this episode is Nurse Practitioner Naomi Pratt who describes the lingering and harrowing effects of long COVID. Naomi is a Nurse Practitioner who jointly manages and leads the Critical Care Liaison Nurse service at Peninsula Health. In this role she provides clinical leadership and the Intensive Care response to Medical Emergency Team calls. She has completed post graduate qualifications in Intensive Care and has over 20 years of ICU experience. She completed her Masters in Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) at LaTrobe University and has been an endorsed Nurse Practitioner since 2015. Naomi has a keen interest in providing critical care outreach and supporting clinicians caring for deteriorating patients in ward areas outside of ICU. She is a clinical mentor for advanced practice nurses at Peninsula Health and has undertaken research to understand the factors associated with the care of deteriorating patients. This has resulted in several conference presentations and journal publications. Naomi tries to balance the challenge of work and enjoying time with her family and friends. She is lucky to live on the Mornington Peninsula, outside of Melbourne, where she shares the environment with many local animals including the visiting koalas, birdlife and pobblebonk frogs. Naomi and I work at the same hospital and I started wondering if something was wrong when I hadn't seen her for over a month during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sure enough, Naomi was at home and was unwell with COVID-19. Naomi has experienced a diverse range of significant symptoms over many months, some of which have lingered. She has resumed working with lighter duties than her usual busy role, yet experiences "up and down" periods with a decent level of fatigue. Naomi remains below her normal full health and seems to now have the condition which has become known as long COVID. Naomi is a true expert at keeping sick hospitalised patients out of ICU and, whilst performing that role, appears to have developed COVID-19 from exposure to a patient. I therefore asked her if we could record a conversation about her 2020 experience so it might help others. In this episode, Naomi talks about: Her career background to becoming a Critical Care Liaison Nurse The role she plays in the Liaison Nurse service at Frankston Hospital How she juggles the many different requirements of this position The night shift she was exposed to COVID-19 by helping to intubate a patient The PPE policy at that early period of the pandemic Developing the symptoms of, and being diagnosed with, COVID-19 Why she felt she shouldn't share this information with other people early in her illness Her personal health experience of COVID-19 Quarantining in her home with her family The severe chest pains she later endured The many additional symptoms she developed as it turned into long COVID How she is feeling now, many months later, in her recovery Some thoughts about keeping healthcare workers safe from COVID-19   Naomi is courageous to tell her personal health story on a podcast. I really hope you find this valuable to listen to.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Links related to Naomi Pratt Naomi Pratt at Peninsula Health Naomi Pratt on Twitter: @gnome3927   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

This episode is a departure from recent conversations about COVID-19 material to cover some very important topics on the human side of what we do in the ICU. My hope is you will glean valuable insights from an intensivist I admire greatly as both an expert practitioner and an esteemed educator of high-level intensive care communication - amongst other things, of course. Dr Steve Philpot is an Intensive Care Specialist at Cabrini Hospital in Melbourne with a special interest in end of life care, organ and tissue donation, communication skills training and empathy in the workplace. He is the National Lead Trainer for the DonateLife Family Donation Conversation Workshops, the Convenor of the College of Intensive Care Medicine communication training program, convenor of the Cabrini Health "Shared Decision Making" and "Advance Care Planning Conversations" workshops and chair of the Cabrini Health End of Life Care Committee. Steve is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Monash University and is involved in undergraduate communication training. He is currently completing a Masters of Health and Medical Law at Melbourne University. His other interests include playing guitar, singing, walking his dogs, the Fremantle Football Club (in the Australian Football League), and writing. Steve was once an advanced trainee where I worked as a consultant, and always displayed wisdom beyond his experience, something that comes through in this conversation, even if he is highly experienced now. We recorded this conversation before SARS-COV2 had been described, so there is no discussion of the COVID-19 pandemic, but I guess that makes it a favourable choice to listen to for many of you right now. In this conversation, Steve talks on topics including: The importance of being calm and collaborative His realisation that knowledge is not the most important thing we need The usefulness in giving positive feedback, and being helpful, kind and humble How tribalism damages workplace culture, and how we can deal with this The ways he builds relationships with other team members 3 vital points about, and his number 1 tip for communication The usefulness of having an evolving phrase library Shared decision making, including asking vital questions to learn what a patient really wants His outside work interests, and what his self-care practice is Thoughts on making a transition from a mega ICU to a smaller ICU, and The value of knowing you already know enough   Steve uses story-telling very powerfully in this episode. Please enjoy listening to Dr Steve Philpot.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, through conversations about the human side of what we do, so you can be the most kind, compassionate and effective healthcare practitioner you can be.   --------------------   Links related to Steve Philpot Steve Philpot at Cabrini Health Intensive Care Unit Steve Philpot on LinkedIn Donate Life Family Donation Conversation Workshops (Steve is National Lead Trainer) Article by Steve Philpot on Shared Decision Making   Links to other resources (in order of mentioning) Study on Tribalism CICM Communication Course Article by Steve Philpot on Shared Decision Making Podcast "Dolly Parton's America" Podcast "13 Minutes To The Moon" Podcast "This American Life" Podcast "Hamish & Andy" Author Jane Harper Book "Sapiens" (by Yuval Noah Harari)   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

2020 has been a roller coaster year and I wish to acknowledge my friends of the Intensive Care world for your outstanding and awe-inspiring efforts as clinicians, researchers, educators, digital content creators, and mostly as human beings, compassionately caring for others in a truly unprecedented global crisis. COVID-19 is far from over yet. Massive numbers of cases are still being reported each day and many countries are re-instituting public health-focused social and business restrictions. So whilst the pandemic continues, unabated, it feels like the right time to reinvigorate the Mastering Intensive Care podcast, after a 6 month break, with an episode where I express my gratitude to each of you individually, thanking you for what you have done so far, and for what you will likely need to continue to do. This isn't a thank you to one discipline of people who work in the ICU. It's to every single person, in every role, who has supported either the people admitted to or those who work in any ICU in the world. We need to look after each other as the pandemic is not going away. The promise of a vaccine is really only that. And many of you have done it tough either through the gruelling and onerous work or through the exhausting fatigue, whether that be physical, mental or emotional, you've suffered. There have been many patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICUs, there have been many deaths, and sadly there have been many healthcare worker deaths, including Intensive Care professionals. My heart goes out to those who have died, their families and especially you as their colleagues. It has been one of the hardest things you have all had to deal with. The emotional turmoil, let alone the physical toil, many of you have been under has been extreme. And all I can hope for is that things settle down very soon. Thank you and well done. You are true heroes. Please listen to my tribute to the awesome and astonishing Intensive Care community of the world.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The show focuses on the human aspects of what happens at the Intensive Care Unit bedside. The aim is to inspire and support you to bring your best self to work as well as to be the most kind, compassionate and effective Intensive Care professional you can.   --------------------   Links to recent COVID-19 podcasts on Mastering Intensive Care Steve McGloughlin - Preparing for the COVID-19 pandemic (MIC #59) Firsthand COVID-19 patient experience from New York ICU nurse Simone Hannah-Clark (MIC #60)   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

In many parts of the world the COVID-19 pandemic is overburdening Intensive Care Units with huge numbers of critically unwell patients, many of whom are dying. Whilst China, Italy, Spain, France, Germany and the UK have been crisis-ridden over the last few months, one of the most inundated parts of the world right now is the USA and especially the state of New York. In this episode you will hear the firsthand experience of a New York City ICU nurse where things are extremely intense and overwhelming. Simone Hannah-Clark is a critical care nurse in the Medical ICU at the Mount Sinai hospital in Manhattan. Originally a New Zealander, she worked in both New Zealand and Australia before moving to the USA 15 years ago. Simone recently penned an engrossing New York Times opinion piece entitled "An ICU Nurse's Coronavirus Diary". In this podcast she delves deeper into her recent reality as a nurse caring for ICU patients with COVID-19. She recounts stories of the hard work, the sense of duty, the intricacies of personal protective equipment, the inspiring camaraderie, her revived passion for her job, and above all the heartbreaking emotion of dying patients with absent relatives. Nurses around the globe are doing extremely arduous jobs and risking their own health as they care for thousands of seriously ill people with COVID-19. They are the true linchpins of the ICU. As you'll glean in this episode, Simone is a perfect example of the compassion, professionalism and humanity that is so essential in the world right now. Thanks for listening to this conversation with Simone Hannah-Clark.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The show aims to focus on the human aspects of what happens at the Intensive Care Unit bedside. Conversations with thought-provoking guests should hopefully help you to bring your best self to work as an intensive care clinician.   --------------------   Links related to Simone Hannah-Clark Simone Hannah-Clark on Twitter Opinion piece in New York Times "An ICU Nurse's Coronavirus Diary" (by Simone Hannah-Clark)   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, this episode focuses on the pandemic planning all ICUs should be doing - if they haven't already been overwhelmed. This week a Working Group of 30 colleagues released the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) COVID-19 Guidelines. This episode features the Chair of that Working Group, A/Prof Steve McGloughlin. Steve is an intensivist, an infectious diseases physician, and the Director of the ICU at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, one of the largest Australian ICUs. In this conversation, Steve talks about: How he is "hoping for the best and preparing for the worst" His confidence in the Australian Intensive Care system How and why the ANZICS COVID-19 Guidelines were developed Measures for increasing ICU capacity His belief that intensive care can be offered to all who might benefit in the pandemic The need to communicate more in a crisis to ease anxiety The value of asking "Are you confident we know what we are doing as a team"? PPE being safe as long as the equipment is used properly His ICU developing the role of a PPE monitor The hierarchy for negative pressure room use Splitting teams into 3 so workers are either on, on call, or totally off What the guidelines recommend about high flow nasal oxygen, non-invasive ventilation & ECMO The lack of evidence for medications and COVID-19 Looking after our teams by ensuring a degree of confidence How he will deal with the social isolation The ways we might obtain additional intensive care trained healthcare workers His thoughts on older health care workers and their risks If you are in a place where the number of COVID-19 patients are ramping up, I really think this is a must listen episode.   We are all in this together.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast is aimed to inspire and empower you to bring your best self to the intensive care unit, through conversations with thought-provoking guests. The hope is you'll glean insights to move you closer towards being the best and most human healthcare professionals you can be, so you can make the most valuable contribution to your patient's lives.   --------------------   Links related to Steve McGloughlin A/Prof Steve McGloughlin A/Prof Steve McGloughlin on LinkedIn Alfred Intensive Care Unit   Links to resources (in order of mentioning) WHO situation reports on COVID-19 ANZICS COVID-19 guidelines (Version 1) ANZICS JAMA Network Video "Coronavirus in Italy - Reports From The Front Lines"   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 47 with Matt Morgan Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 58 on "COVID-19 - We are all in this together" Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

Our need to bring our best selves to work has become more important in the face of this COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe. Many intensive care clinicians are presently overwhelmed by escalating numbers of critically ill COVID-19 patients whilst many others are carefully preparing for seemingly inevitable local outbreaks. There is an eerie feeling where I live and work in Melbourne especially with the online reports and accounts from our heroic colleagues in harder hit places like China, Italy and even parts of the USA. My wife, Claire Davies, and I thought it would be useful to record a conversation about what's going through our minds, right now in mid-March 2020, as public health officials and healthcare organisations around the world are either managing or preparing for the onslaught of individuals infected with the virus whilst also enacting public health measures such as social distancing and airline travel restrictions. Claire, who was a previous interview guest on episode 29, spent almost 2 decades as an intensive care nurse before retraining in pastoral care and now works in that role at Epworth Hospital in Melbourne. Claire and I fully recognise that colleagues in some parts of the world have significantly more experience with the novel Corona virus than we do but if, like us, you are thinking a lot about this pandemic and fearful of what is about to happen I hope you find some value in this conversation between Claire and I. In it we talk about: Our gratitude for those clinicians working in the overwhelmed areas Claire's hope they know they are not alone Claire's own current fears and how this has manifest Balancing the need to manage our fears whilst doing our crucial jobs Claire's perspective on how we bring our whole selves to work The likely moral distress of making "war time-like" decisions about rationing ventilators The unknowns of providing pastoral/spiritual care in this situation Useful ways to help look after ourselves during the outbreak Recognising that if we don't transform our personal trauma, we transfer it Trying to eat well, drink less alcohol, sleep well and to get in some exercise Trying to have deep compassion for people making the big decisions The opportunity this pandemic provides to bring us closer together as an intensive care community Being grateful and caring for each other in these times   We are definitely all in this COVID-19 thing together.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast is aimed to inspire and empower you to bring your best self to the intensive care unit, through conversations with thought-provoking guests. The hope is you'll glean insights to move you closer towards being the best and most human healthcare professionals you can be, so you can make the most valuable contribution to your patient's lives.   --------------------   Links to resources (in order of mentioning) WHO situation reports on COVID-19 Robcast Podcast episode "I am calling you to talk about the Coronavirus" (by Rob Bell) Book "The Body Keeps The Score" (by Bessel van der Kolk)   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 29 with Claire Davies Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

Those of you who are consultant intensivists or attendings hopefully remember most of your trainees - especially the ones you met when you were a brand new intensivist. In this episode I speak with Dr Georg Auzinger who in 1997 moved from Austria to Australia to train in intensive care at the same ICU I was beginning my first job as a specialist intensivist. I have fond memories of working with Georg, have enjoyed the friendship we have developed and have been thrilled to see from afar how well his career has progressed. Nowadays Georg has a senior position in the United Kingdom intensive care field where he is Consultant Honorary Senior Lecturer in Intensive Care Medicine, Lead Clinician at the Liver Intensive Care Unit and Director of the Veno Arterial ECMO service at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London. He is PTEeXAM board certified for perioperative transoesophageal echocardiography and also leads on critical care echocardiography training. Georg has played a substantial role in the outstanding international reputation the Liver Intensive Care Unit at King's has maintained over the last decade. He is member and associate fellow of the UK Intensive Care Society, as well as member of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the Austrian Society of Internal Medicine and the International Liver Transplantation Society. In this conversation, Georg and I do some reminiscing, as we talk about: His transition from doing general medicine in Austria to intensive care in Australia How he found his way to Kings College Hospital in London The changes in the last 2 decades in the types of patients being admitted to ICU The current resource constraints in the UK Working in the Clinical Director role in a busy institution How beneficial colleague performance reviews can be for both parties Relationship building between nurses and doctors Communicating with colleagues The importance of keeping the patient at the centre of what we do The difficulties he recognises in balancing his work and life   Please enjoy listening to Dr Georg Auzinger.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast is aimed to inspire and empower you to bring your best self to the intensive care unit, through conversations with thought-provoking guests. The hope is you'll glean insights to move you closer towards being the best and most human healthcare professionals you can be, so you can make the most valuable contribution to your patient's lives.   --------------------   Links related to Georg Auzinger Dr Georg Auzinger at Kings College Kings College Hospital Liver ICU   Links to other resources (in order of mentioning) Prof Julia Wendon Cleveland Clinic London New Normal Project podcast   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 3 with Rinaldo Bellomo Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 12 with Julia Wendon Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 55 with Mervyn Singer Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 56 - What's in the Journals to help you care Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

In this episode I talk about what's been recently published in the medical literature to help you master intensive care from a humanity point of view. In a departure from the usual interview episode, and as a trial, I searched the December 2019 issues of 8 well-respected journals and found a large number of articles focused on non-technical aspects of intensive care. Not the drugs, devices, procedures or interventions, but the person-based and human-focused topics I like to concentrate this podcast on. As I've transitioned in my own career from being a researcher of interventions to a producer of a podcast focused on being the best all-round intensive care-givers we can be, I've realised there is a growing literature on non-technical topics, some of which I'm not well enough aware of on a day to day basis. So in this episode I found numerous articles from December 2019 which I believe can help you and your colleagues humanise the intensive care you give at the bedside. Some are research studies, some are reviews, and others are stories, essays, poems, or simply writings. I focus in some detail on 3 specific journal articles on the topics of (1) family engagement, (2) family support and (3) early palliative care consultation. I then refer you briefly to 10 other articles so you can read these in full if you are interested. There are links to all of these articles below. I really hope you enjoy and value this episode. I learnt a lot from reading these articles myself. Please send any feedback, questions or comments to [email protected].   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast is aimed to inspire and empower you to bring your best self to the intensive care unit, through conversations with thought-provoking guests. The hope is you'll glean insights to move you closer towards being the best and most human healthcare professionals you can be, so you can make the most valuable contribution to your patient's lives.   --------------------   Links to 3 Journal articles reviewed in detail Kleinpell R, Zimmerman J, Vermoch KL, et al. Promoting Family Engagement in the ICU: Experience From a National Collaborative of 63 ICUs. Crit Care Med. 2019;47(12):1692–1698. doi:10.1097/CCM.0000000000004009   PubMed link   Associated editorial Lee HW, Park Y, Jang EJ, Lee YJ. Intensive care unit length of stay is reduced by protocolized family support intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis [published correction appears in Intensive Care Med. 2019 Oct 8;:]. Intensive Care Med. 2019;45(8):1072–1081. doi:10.1007/s00134-019-05681-3   PubMed link Ma J, Chi S, Buettner B, et al. Early Palliative Care Consultation in the Medical ICU: A Cluster Randomized Crossover Trial. Crit Care Med. 2019;47(12):1707–1715. doi:10.1097/CCM.0000000000004016   PubMed link   Links to 10 Journal articles mentioned briefly Barreto BB, Luz M, Rios MNO, Lopes AA, Gusmao-Flores D. The impact of intensive care unit diaries on patients' and relatives' outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care. 2019; 23(1):411. Published 2019 Dec 16. doi:10.1186/s13054-019-2678-0   PubMed link Ramchand P. The gift. Lancet. 2020; 394(10216):2283–2284. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)32961-7   PubMed link Harrington JL. The Case for Waking. JAMA. 2019; 322(22):2251. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.17962   PubMed link Maskell G. True candour. BMJ. 2019; 367:l6754. Published 2019 Dec 3. doi:10.1136/bmj.l6754   PubMed link Rimmer A. Bring me joy. BMJ. 2019; 367:l6745. Published 2019 Dec 16. doi:10.1136/bmj.l6745   PubMed link Klaber RE, Bailey S. Kindness: an underrated currency. BMJ. 2019; 367:l6099. Published 2019 Dec 16. doi:10.1136/bmj.l6099   PubMed link Morgan M. Matt Morgan: Cold food on hot desks. BMJ. 2019; 367:l6829. Published 2019 Dec 10. doi:10.1136/bmj.l6829   PubMed link Rimmer A. Suicide in anaesthetists: five minutes with . . . Samantha Shinde. BMJ. 2019;367:l6781. Published 2019 Dec 2. doi:10.1136/bmj.l6781   PubMed link Auriemma CL, Van den Berghe G, Halpern SD. Less is more in critical care is supported by evidence-based medicine. Intensive Care Med. 2019;45(12):1806–1809. doi:10.1007/s00134-019-05771-2   PubMed link Auñón-Chancellor S. Earthling. Ann Intern Med. 2019; 171(12):937–938. doi:10.7326/M19-2759   PubMed link   Links to 8 Journals searched New England Journal of Medicine JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association BMJ: British Medical Journal The Lancet Annals of Internal Medicine Critical Care Medicine ICM Journal: Intensive Care Medicine American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Critical Care   Links to other resources mentioned Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 3 with Rinaldo Bellomo Critical Care Reviews Link to sign up to Critical Care Reviews newsletter PRISMA statement Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 32 with Kate Harding   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 50 with Andrew Davies Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 51 - A Recap of 2019 Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

Anyone who has heard UK intensivist Prof Mervyn Singer speak at an Intensive Care conference will no doubt enjoy listening to him speak on this episode of Mastering Intensive Care. Mervyn Singer is Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at University College London in the UK. He was born, bred, trained, and now works in London as an intensivist and a researcher whose career spans from basic mechanistic work through to translational investigations and multi-centre trials. He co-chaired the 'Sepsis-3' international definitions task force, is Editor-in-Chief of Intensive Care Medicine Experimental and Treasurer of the International Sepsis Forum. Mervyn has published widely in a variety of journals and has authored or co-edited several textbooks including the Oxford Textbook of Critical Care. He was the first UK intensivist to be awarded Senior Investigator status by the UK National Institute for Health Research, and to be invited to give plenary lectures at the European and US Intensive Care Congresses. In this conversation Mervyn is full of his usual enthusiasm as we covered many important topics including: How he became an intensivist What he's observed about the physiological basis of intensive care The clinical ward round process he follows The scheme in his ICU to allow patients to die at home How he leads an end of life conversation The benefits to having an ICU-based psychologist How institutions might better care for their junior staff How much he enjoys his career His "can do" attitude How his passion for sport has helped him His regular sleep pattern The value he receives from doing body stretching His use of email and social media Mentoring younger trainees Which of his research makes him most proud His tips for giving a good lecture Some excellent advice to conclude our conversation   I invite you to listen in to my conversation with Mervyn Singer.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast is aimed to inspire and empower you to bring your best self to the intensive care unit, through conversations with thought-provoking guests. The hope is you'll glean insights to move you closer towards being the best and most human healthcare professionals you can be, so you can make the most valuable contribution to your patient's lives.   --------------------   Links related to Mervyn Singer Prof Mervyn Singer Mervyn Singer brief CV   Links to other resources (in order of mentioning) David Bennett's Obituary (co-authored by Mervyn Singer) Edith Piaf The Cricket "Ashes" New Normal Project podcast   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 51 - A Recap of 2019 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 52 with Martin Bromiley Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 53 with Paul Wischmeyer Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 54 with Deborah Cook Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

In this episode of the Mastering Intensive Care podcast we replay a previous episode which featured Deborah Cook (broadcast originally as episode 46). Deborah is an intensivist at St. Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton and Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, and Academic Chair of Critical Care at McMaster University. Deborah has received numerous awards for her practice, teaching, mentoring and research, including an Officer of the Order of Canada. She is one of the evidence-based medicine pioneers, and has cultivated and led countless large international investigator-initiated intensive care research studies, mostly with the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group, which she was a Founder of, and which now awards the Deborah J. Cook Mentoring Award to recognise the huge number of people she has mentored around the planet. In this replayed interview from 2019, Deborah talks about the rekindling of her early career desire to study and practice better end of life care to improve the quality of the dying experience for patients and their families, with the Three Wishes project. She also gives her wise and experienced thoughts on the keys to success in research, ward rounds, family involvement in the ICU, her expectations as an ICU consultant, communication, note-writing, her own self-care and love for family, and some valuable closing career tips.   I invite you to listen to this replay episode with Deborah Cook.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast is aimed to inspire and empower you to bring your best self to the intensive care unit, through conversations with thought-provoking guests. The hope is you'll glean insights to move you closer towards being the best and most human healthcare professionals you can be, so you can make the most valuable contribution to your patient's lives.   --------------------   Links related to Deborah Cook Prof Deborah Cook Article about Deborah Cook Article 2 about Deborah Cook Video of Deborah Cook   Links to other resources (in order of mentioning) Canadian Critical Care Trials Group The 3 Wishes Project Publication from 3 Wishes Project Other publications from 3 Wishes Project David Sackett Book "Essentialism - The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" (by Greg McKeown) ANZICS Clinical Trials Group New Normal Project podcast   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 46 with Deborah Cook Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 50 with Andrew Davies Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 51 - A Recap of 2019 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 52 with Martin Bromiley Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 53 with Paul Wischmeyer Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

In this episode of the Mastering Intensive Care podcast we replay a previous episode which featured Paul Wischmeyer (broadcast originally as episode 35). Paul is a Professor of Anesthesiology and Surgery, the Director of Perioperative Research at the Duke Clinical Research Institute and the Co-Director of the Nutrition Support Service at Duke University Hospital in the United States. Paul works mainly as a perioperative, critical care, and nutrition physician focused on enhancing preparation and recovery from surgery and critical care. His academic career has led to large numbers of publications, grants and invited presentations. And what's unique about Paul is that his passion for helping patients stems from his own personal experience as a patient. In this replayed interview from 2018, Paul describes how he ended up as a physician, after having disturbing and traumatic patient experiences (including procedures, medications and suboptimal communication) and how this has helped him to be a better doctor and an example and teacher to others. He also discusses topics including ward rounds, cooperating with a palliative care team, caring for ourselves, the importance of nutrition and exercise, good onstage presentation techniques, and some valuable closing tips for all of us.   I invite you to listen to this replay episode with Paul Wischmeyer.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast is aimed to inspire and empower you to bring your best self to the intensive care unit, through conversations with thought-provoking guests. The hope is you'll glean insights to move you closer towards being the best and most human healthcare professionals you can be, so you can make the most valuable contribution to your patient's lives.   --------------------   Links related to Paul Wischmeyer Paul Wischmeyer website Paul Wischmeyer at Duke University Paul Wischmeyer at Duke Health Paul Wischmeyer on Twitter: @Paul_Wischmeyer Paul Wischmeyer on LinkedIn   Links to other resources (in order of mentioning) 2019/2020 Australian Bush Fires American Delirium Society Prof Wes Ely SCCM ICU liberation initiative Book "Presentation Zen Design" (by Garr Reynolds) Prof Jean-Louis Vincent Prof Mervyn Singer   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 31 with Jean-Louis Vincent Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 33 with Wes Ely Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 35 with Paul Wischmeyer Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 49 with Hugh Montgomery Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 52 with Martin Bromiley Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

In this episode of the Mastering Intensive Care podcast we replay a previous episode which featured Martin Bromiley (broadcast originally as episode 21). Martin is an airline captain, whose wife Elaine Bromiley sadly died in tragic circumstances, the story of which he describes here and is also documented in the video "Just a routine operation". Martin used his experience in human factors to found and now lead the Clinical Human Factors Group, the charity working to make healthcare safer, by combining the efforts of academics, clinicians, leaders and policy makers. His work is widely recognised and his many awards include an Order of the British Empire (OBE), the Royal College of Anaesthetists Medal and Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. In this replayed interview from 2017, Martin tells Elaine's sorry story, describes how he dealt with it, and the support he received, before going on describe his work and the founding of the Clinical Human Factors Group, what he thinks is required to improve safety in healthcare, what healthcare can and cannot learn from aviation, the importance of honesty about errors, the 3 key lessons in human factors for clinicians, how he uses mental rehearsal in his role as an airline pilot, and a final important tip about listening.   I invite you to listen to this replay episode with Martin Bromiley.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast is aimed to inspire and empower you to bring your best self to the intensive care unit, through conversations with thought-provoking guests. The hope is you'll glean insights to move you closer towards being the best and most human healthcare professionals you can be, so you can make the most valuable contribution to your patient's lives.   --------------------   Links related to Martin Bromiley Martin Bromiley Martin Bromiley on Twitter: @MartinBromiley Martin Bromiley on LinkedIn Clinical Human Factors Group Donations to Clinical Human Factors Group Video "Just a routine operation" Video "How to Fail…Part Two" (a talk by Martin Bromiley at DasSMACC conference) Video "Martin Bromiley, a Patient's Perspective" (talk by Martin Bromiley at Patient Safety Movement) Anonymous version of an Independent Report on the death of Elaine Bromiley Article "The husbands story: from tragedy to learning and action" (authored by Martin Bromiley) Article "Clinical Human Factors" (co-authored by Martin Bromiley) Article 1 on Martin Bromiley Article 2 on Martin Bromiley Article 3 on Martin Bromiley Article "Lessons from the Bromiley Case" (by Mike Cadogan on Life In The Fast Lane)   Links to other resources (in order of mentioning) SMACC TED Book "Black Box Thinking" (by Matthew Syed) Paper on the Safety 1 and Safety 2 model Second paper on the Safety 1 and Safety 2 model Third article on the Safety 1 and Safety 2 model Jim Harlow on Twitter   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 21 with Martin Bromiley Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

Happy New Year. Thanks for listening to Mastering Intensive Care in 2019. If you reflect on and put into action many of the perspectives shared on this podcast, and if your colleagues do too, I truly believe your ICUs should improve in the care you deliver. That's not to say you don't do well already. It's rather to suggest that the topics we cover on this podcast are not covered well in textbooks and journals, and are often better relayed through the stories and experience of the real people I talk to with the "fly on the wall" intimacy that audio podcasts allow. In this 2019 recap episode you will either hear some of the interview guests you may have missed, or you will re-listen to some of the topics & people I selected, so as to showcase several of the themes this show focuses on. For the third year in a row I have simply been astounded by just how much I personally have valued and learned from the perspectives, stories and wisdom of the people I've interviews on the show in the last 12 months. This is my thank you to each of those guests (even if they haven't been highlighted today). It's also my thank you to you, whether you are a first-time or long-time listener, and a special thank you to all who have helped me by sharing the show with others. I couldn't include all 2019 guests so I picked the excerpts I enjoyed rehearing. I am sorry if I left out someone you might have included. If you did miss some of the episodes, here is your chance to catch up. If you are a new listener, this series of audio snippets is what I feel best characterises the show. The 6 extracts are from interviews with Rana Awdish, Matt Morgan, Jo Stewart, Laura Rock, Paul Young & Ed Litton. I hope you do enjoy what I see to be as a virtual cramming of the 2019 Mastering Intensive Care curriculum, packaged up into just over an hour of listening, that should really help you to bring your best self to work in 2020.   Thanks for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast is aimed to inspire and empower you to bring your best self to the intensive care unit, through conversations with thought-provoking guests. The hope is you'll glean insights to move you closer towards being the best and most human healthcare professionals you can be, so you can make the most valuable contribution to your patient's lives.   --------------------   Links to the 6 interviews excerpted (in order of playing) Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 41 with Rana Awdish Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 47 with Matt Morgan Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 43 with Jo Stewart Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 48 with Laura Rock Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 42 with Paul Young Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton   Links to resources (in order of mentioning) See above links for more information about individual guests and the resources discussed in each excerpt New Normal Project podcast Rich Roll Podcast Rich Roll Podcast - Episode 488 (Best of 2019 Part 1) Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 15 with Peter Brindley New Normal Project podcast - New Normal in Action episode (October 2019) New Normal Project podcast - New Normal in Action episode (November 2019) New Normal Project podcast - New Normal in Action episode (December 2019) Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 45 with Scott Weingart EMCrit podcast - Episode 252 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 49 with Hugh Montgomery Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 50 with Andrew Davies   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

To celebrate the 50 episode milestone, podcast host and intensivist Andrew Davies (yes that's me) is in the spotlight. Having started the show to learn perspectives that could help me, as well as you, to be better and more human healthcare professionals, I've published 49 episodes with some amazing guests. Based on many of you asking for this, I finally plucked up the courage and switched the microphones so I'm the one being interviewed. I also had the very difficult task of picking an interviewer and eventually chose my good friend, Neil Orford, who was one of the early, and very popular, guests on the show. He got the gig because he and I usually have outstanding conversations based mostly around Neil's curiosity and his interest in things that aren't the "bread and butter" topics of Intensive Care. If you want to know more about Neil, listen to episode 4. If you want to know more about me, listen in here. Neil asks me about all sorts of topics including: What's changed as I've done the previous 49 episodes The common themes I've identified on the show How I incorporate kindness, compassion and a team approach to my work Some reflections on ward rounds I lead Showing respect to the ICU team My thoughts on listening Transitioning from a tertiary ICU to a smaller ICU Why I pivoted from an academic career to a focus on podcasting and wellness My advice about wellness for Intensive Care practitioners What I think are the key planks for my health and wellbeing Some thoughts on moderation and tolerance Whether I still enjoy being an intensivist What my life might look like in 5 years And my thoughts on the future of Intensive Care I hope you enjoy our conversation. Andrew Davies -------------------- About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast is aimed to inspire and empower you to bring your best self to the intensive care unit, through conversations with thought-provoking guests. The hope is you'll glean insights to move you closer towards being the best and most human healthcare professionals you can be, so you can make the most valuable contribution to your patient's lives.   --------------------   Links related to Andrew Davies Andrew Davies at Peninsula Health Andrew Davies profile at World Congress of Intensive Care Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn   Links related to Neil Orford Neil Orford at Barwon Health Neil Orford profile at World Congress of Intensive Care Neil Orford at Deakin University Neil Orford on Twitter Neil Orford on LinkedIn   Links to resources (in order of mentioning) Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 4 with Neil Orford Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 29 with Claire Davies Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 2 with John Botha Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 49 with Hugh Montgomery Prof Hugh Montgomery Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 9 with John Myburgh Prof John Myburgh Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 3 with Rinaldo Bellomo Prof Rinaldo Bellomo ANZICS Clinical Trials Group New Normal Project podcast Book "Thrive" (by Ariana Huffington) Ariana Huffington   Other interviews of and presentations by Andrew Davies Interview 1 Interview 2 Interview 3 Presentation 1 Presentation 2   Links related to Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media