INNSBRUCK. He is the senior physician for emergency medicine at the State Hospital University Clinic Innsbruck and has been an active emergency doctor for 33 years.

We conducted an interview with Michael Baubin and got exciting insights into his day-to-day work.

What was the decisive factor for you in deciding to become an emergency doctor?
Baubin: Before I decided to study medicine, I was 45 years ago with the Johannitern in my hometown Ehren in the first aid training, in the driving service of people with disabilities, as a paramedic in the rescue service and after training in nursing also in the mobile Home nursing active. My experiences in the emergency medical service have particularly touched me and motivated me to get into emergency medicine after my studies in Innsbruck and my medical training. So it was only logical, after training as a general practitioner, to complete and intensify specialist training in anesthesia here in Innsbruck.

You have been working as an emergency doctor for over 30 years. What is your secret recipe, if there is one thing you can do to persevere in all the sometimes dire incidents and never give up?
Baubin: Illness, hardship, dying are part of life like birth, joy, happiness and in your own life, if possible, in a balanced relationship and may be experienced. For my tasks as a team decision maker in special situations in emergency medicine, a few basic attitudes are of crucial importance to me. First, people make mistakes and are allowed to make mistakes. Every 50th decision made by a single person can be wrong, so teams are important, a good safety culture is important, we can and should help each other because multiple eyes and ears see and hear more. Everything we do as emergency doctors outside on the street, in apartments, we do to the best of our knowledge and belief. In retrospect, we sometimes see things differently, perhaps more clearly – this is gilded for many things in life. Second, a healthy respect and a certain humility are important, despite excellent (emergency) medicine we cannot save every person, we cannot solve every critical situation, often we can no longer help. And third, you may need a good, stable image of people and life, gratitude and personal safety nets to persevere.

How do you manage to separate professional from private?
Baubin: I usually walk from the clinic or ride my bike home; On the way I try to reflect on the day and, if necessary, make one or two cell phone calls so that I can devote myself as much as possible to my family at home. Balanced private, personal recovery periods are important; Sports, gardening, music, painting, artistic, nature experiences, partnership can help well and to remain authentic.

What have been the most formative experiences in your professional career so far?
Baubin: Resuscitation measures during childbirth, child emergencies, meeting patients again who, for example, rode a motorcycle and who could be resuscitated years ago; Dramatic medical situations in one’s own life, special social situations and crises that one could die.

What does a “classic working day” look like?
Baubin: About 1/3 of my clinical working time at the State Hospital / University Clinics Innsbruck is a senior anesthetist in the operating room, 2/3 as a senior physician in emergency medicine and, among other things, the medical director of two emergency medical centers in Innsbruck and Telfs.
At 7:00 am I am in my office in the clinic and quickly look through the last email messages for 10 minutes, at 7:15 am I take part in the early meeting of the anesthesia clinic, which the emergency doctor also attended last night reports on the past emergency medical services. The operation started at 07:30 or I arrive at the emergency doctor base. Here I am usually assigned as an emergency doctor until 4:00 p.m., usually with a young emergency doctor in training. The team of the emergency medical service vehicle (NEF) consists of an emergency paramedic, also a driver, an emergency doctor and a trainee. The NEF is alerted about 11 times per 24 hours a year, and up to 24 times on extreme days, and moves out. Often I spend an hour in the clinic. I am on duty around the clock about twice a month. In the off-duty or operating time, I process e-mails, accompany my freelance workers or set up new initiatives or scientific projects, train, etc.

What tips do you have for aspiring emergency doctors?
Baubin: Approach every mission with the attitude that people in acute medical emergency need you. Treat your patients and patients as if they were close relatives; Maintain your enthusiasm for the profession to be able to help people acutely; For me, the ideal preclinical emergency medicine is the combination of anesthesia & intensive care medicine, working as a general practitioner with special knowledge and skills, in palliative medicine and with an ethical background. With knowledge and experience Willingness to make decisions, courage and experience combined with a pronounced understanding of socially difficult situations and experience in crisis management are very helpful.

What is your balance to the stressful everyday working life?
Baubin: walking / hiking, gardening and enjoying, music and especially your own family

What do you wish for the future of emergency medicine?
Baubin: I wish for myself / us, society, in Austria, Tyrol and Innsbruck that there are always enough people who are directly or indirectly active in and for emergency medicine; that the decision-makers perceive, win, win and expand the importance of emergency medicine and are open to innovations – also materially / financially – so that there is no standstill; that justice, equality and dignity are lived in everyday life and in special situations.

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