Tired of Not Being Taken Seriously? Professionalism and How It Affects You

There has been much talk in the media and the literature about professionalism. What is it? Why is it important? Do I really need to pay attention to this? I do not have time for it! These are statements heard across the profession, and not just in anesthesiology. But there is compelling evidence that professionalism is an important factor in our day-today lives. In fact, professionalism can affect the health of our patients as well as our own, the practitioners. My purpose in this chapter is to illustrate that point and suggest some ideas on how to make professionalism work for us and our patients. First, we must review the goals of professionalism, particularly with respect to anesthesiology. Then, we must show how professionalism affects our daily lives and, finally, show how it can impact the care of our patients.