In his nearly 30 years as an emergency medicine physician and healthcare executive, Dr. Michael Lipscomb has experienced a never-ending stream of industry challenges that force him and his colleagues to remain resilient in the face of constant change.

He and his fellow emergency department (ED) physicians, advanced practice clinicians, nurses and allied professionals have continued to provide 24/7 care as the medical profession evolves and changes in real time, from managed care and the closure of many psychiatric hospitals to nursing shortages, new medical technologies and treatments, COVID-19, the Affordable Care Act, the No Surprises Act, and rising patient expectations in the age of online information and alternative treatments.

Dr. Lipscomb, ApolloMD’s Chief Quality and Patient Safety Officer, has learned that the most powerful source of resilience amidst ongoing change is rooted in a simple everyday practice:

• focus on one patient at a time
• consciously avoid carrying the lingering emotions, behaviors and reactions from the previous patient encounter into the next patient’s treatment room
• embrace self-care that supports body, mind and spirit

He was one of several industry experts quoted in an early 2025 Medscape article about resilience among health care workers. And despite all of the industry challenges that surround the nation’s emergency departments, he reminds his colleagues of the need to continuously push through the hurt feelings, negative emotions and criticism they might receive so that they can listen to each new patient with an open mind and focus on the care.

Industry challenges remain

Dr. Lipscomb, who graduated from medical school in 1994 and completed his emergency medicine residency in 1997, acknowledges a common criticism of the health care system — that it doesn’t police itself well. But he pushes back on that narrative.

“On one level, I understand the concern,” he says. “But there’s really no evidence that we’re not policing ourselves. We have internal safeguards — peer review, credentialing, board oversight. What’s burning physicians out isn’t a lack of accountability — it’s the constant interference from external forces with agendas that aren’t always grounded in medicine.”

He points to government mandates, insurance company policies and internet-fueled misinformation as primary sources of that interference — all of which contribute to physicians feeling second-guessed, micromanaged and increasingly demoralized.  “We’re trained to follow evidence-based guidelines and make nuanced decisions,” he explains. “But now, more and more, we’re being told how to treat patients by people who aren’t actually treating patients. That disconnect is exhausting — and it’s driving good physicians out of the profession.”

While these outside pressures may be difficult to change, he says there is one area where meaningful progress can be made: within the hospitals and physician groups themselves.

“Health care organizations have a responsibility to support their physicians in real, tangible ways — not just with lip-service and slogans about wellness, but with systems that actually help us do our jobs,” he says. “That includes efficient and user-friendly medical records, reliable access to on-call specialists, and a fully stocked department that’s prepared for the wide range of emergencies that walk through the door.

“The culture of wellness and resilience has to be more than just talk — it has to be felt by the people on the ground,” Dr. Lipscomb emphasizes. “If we can’t fix the outside noise, then we’d better make sure we’re supporting our teams from the inside.”

A solution: self-care, professional awareness

However, in addition to the hospital and physician leader responsibilities to establish the culture and a safe, efficient work environment, a personal commitment to resilience ­is key, he says.  So is an understanding of what resilience means, and the specific actions/behaviors needed to embrace it.

“But the first thing we physicians hear when people talk about ‘resilience’ or ‘wellness’ is “Oh, they’re trying to pacify me and convince me that I need to fix myself,’” he acknowledges. “And if health care workers’ employers or work culture does not embrace wellness, that’s part of the problem. The hospital has to provide the resources to help their medical professionals work through the challenges. Together, we can provide the necessary resources to fix the problem AND fix ourselves.”

He advises his emergency medicine colleagues to embrace self-care and personal resilience so that they can diagnose/treat their patients effectively, “meet the demands and goals of our employers and medical insurers, and go home after every shift feeling good about the important work that we do.”

Such an approach and mindset can help avoid burnout, stem negative emotions, and support behaviors that promote listening, caring and healing.

Borrowing from the NFL

Dr. Lipscomb adopts in his own practice the “six-second rule” from the National Football League, a practice that says a player has no more than six seconds to recover from a flubbed play to get back mentally into the game, ready to play.

“We can all do better,” he explains. “The biggest challenge for me working in the ER is working on my own issues. If nothing else changes, I can change myself and things will be better for me. I can’t just resist change and say, ‘I’m not going to do anything.’ I can make a difference by making a mental mind shift.”

His simple tips include taking a deep breath between every patient visit, smiling when first interacting with new ED patients, and consciously approaching every new patient with a fresh outlook and open mind – unencumbered by previously negative experiences, encounters, conversations or feelings.

“You have to do a mental re-set and say to yourself, ‘The patient in Room A was an aberration, so take a deep breath, commit to helping the patient in Room B, and just start with that,” he says. “Forget about Room A and move on. Remember the good things, tuck away the bad things, and then just adjust and let them go. And equally if not more important, do the same when you’re walking through the door at home.”

To browse career opportunities at ApolloMD, visit the links below.

Clinical Careers
Corporate Careers