Dr. Robert Murray graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York. He completed medical school at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and an emergency medicine residency at the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital, serving as chief resident in his final year.
What have been your significant contributions to your organization in the past year?
To lead as a physician, I focus on interaction with patients and families during every encounter. As peer-review chairman, I make any care review as nonconfrontational and objective as possible.
US Acute Care Solutions staffs the Bristol emergency department. As site quality director, I was directed to improve patient safety in a key risk area: dizziness presentations and improving posterior stroke diagnoses.
Nursing, IT and providers raised our National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score documentation metric from 50% compliance to more than 90% compliance.
Tell us about a challenge in your job that you were able to overcome.
Challenges go beyond the ‘chief complaint.’ Patients don’t simply present with heart attacks, strokes, a fracture or infection. They present with fears, worries and questions. They have deeper reasons and deeper needs.
The challenge is to connect with patients and families, gain trust and find out truly why they are there. You can then align your goal with theirs while efficiently evaluating, diagnosing, treating and discharging/admitting.
What’s your next major goal and/or challenge?
Most emergency departments are a place of human emotion, deep personal struggles, fears, tragedy and life-changing events. My challenge is to see the human side of what is in front of me and speak to people like I am in their house.
The goal is to connect on a different level and practice what we teach our children. Stay mentally and physically healthy first, work hard, be human and stay focused on the task. That way, I can make a difference beyond diagnosing or writing prescriptions.
How are you involved in the community?
I feel connected to local communities by interactions with patients, making a difference and changing the trajectory of lives.
Fun Fact
My family plays ‘Flick’ football, using one triangular-shaped football made of paper, napkin or receipt. You slide it on the table to get a touchdown, field goal or extra point.