Margaret Tromp, MD
Picton, Ont.

Correspondence to:
Margaret Tromp
Email

The CJRM
Can J Rural Med 2019;24(1)
Winter 2019

English    français

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

This summer, we lost Aretha Franklin. Her hit song, R-E-S-P-E-C-T,   became a powerful anthem with strong ties to the civil rights and feminist movements.

Recently, issues related to respect have surfaced in discussion on the RuralMed listserve. There has been discussion of interactions between rural docs  and  consultants  when the services of the consultant are needed for emergency patients. Some rural physicians have had telephone interactions where they felt that there was not a good understanding of their limitations of resources, and their medical decisions were judged to be inadequate.

There was also discussion of how, as rural physicians, we need to learn to value ourselves and our families so that we can set some limits on our medical commitments. We work in relatively small groups and are called upon to assume many roles, both medical and administrative. It is important that we remain cognizant of balance. We need to conserve the energy needed to nurture our most important relationships-those with our families and close friends.

The Society of Rural  Physicians  of Canada has several initiatives that can help with the challenge of respect. First, the RuralMed listserve allows SRPC members to discuss these issues and to exchange ideas with their rural colleagues. At our yearly Rural and Remote conference, workshops are led by rural doctors who share their practical experience and knowledge with their colleagues. We are aware that doctors who work in similar environments as we do are most aware of our challenges and are excellent teachers.