L. Wesley Aldred, MD, FACP, Discusses What It Is Like in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine with American Medical Association
L. Wesley Aldred, MD, FACP, a physician with Hattiesburg Clinic Pulmonary Medicine and Hattiesburg Clinic Critical Care Medicine, recently discussed his specialty of pulmonary and critical care medicine with the American Medical Association (AMA).
Pulmonary and critical care medicine is a demanding field that requires a unique balance of skills and commitment. Dr. Aldred shared insights into the daily challenges and rewards of his specialty, offering valuable advice for medical students considering this career path.
“Our practice is designed so that if we are in the intensive care unit (ICU), we are dedicated to it for the entire day. During my ICU shifts (on days), we work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on nights, the shift is 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. On days when we are not in the ICU, we split our time between clinic duties and procedures and inpatient consults, typically from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” Aldred explained.
He also highlighted the most challenging and rewarding aspects of his work. “In the clinic, I typically help patients with lung cancer, which has a staggering mortality rate. Additionally, caring for patients who are critically ill means confronting mortality regularly, which is inherently challenging. Despite the challenges, it is rewarding to guide patients and their families through severe illness towards dignified end-of-life care.”
Aldred also emphasized the importance of effective communication in his field. “The ability to communicate effectively with families without using medical terminology is crucial. In the ICU, there is no room for miscommunication or parsing of words. Families want to know what you are thinking and what is happening to their family members. Be real with them,” he advised.
Follow the link to read the full interview: https://www.ama-assn.org/medical-students/specialty-profiles/what-its-pulmonary-and-critical-care-shadowing-dr-aldred
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About Hattiesburg Clinic Critical Care Medicine
Hattiesburg Clinic Critical Care Medicine provides care to patients who are in need of life support or other intensive medical care. Critical Care Medicine services include the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of life-threatening medical problems. While Critical Care Medicine physicians are the primary provider of care to patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), they work alongside additional ICU professionals to develop a plan of care tailored to each patient. Critical Care Medicine and the Intensive Care Unit are located in Forrest General Hospital.
About Hattiesburg Clinic Pulmonary Medicine:
Hattiesburg Clinic Pulmonary Medicine provides prevention, diagnosis, treatment, critical care and rehabilitation of respiratory disorders in the adult patient, including COPD. This includes the diagnosis and management of interstitial lung diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, infectious lung disease and occupational lung disease, the treatment of drug-related pulmonary disorders and the diagnosis of carcinoma in suspected patients.
About Hattiesburg Clinic:
Hattiesburg Clinic is Mississippi’s largest privately-owned, multispecialty clinic. More than 60 years after its beginning, the clinic has grown to over 450 physicians and providers, caring for patients in more than 17 counties in South Mississippi. Along with over 2,500 professional staff employees, these physicians and providers come together for a common purpose, to serve the over 500,000 community members who live and work in South Mississippi every day.
