James P DeVellis Discusses the Key Traits of a Good Orthopedic Surgeon
Today, there are numerous different orthopedic surgeons, including James P DeVellis. Commonly, they specialize in a certain area of orthopedics, although others are generalized. Regardless thereof, there are a number of things that they all share in common, including flexibility, mental strength, and physical strength. Let’s take a look at some of the other things that all orthopedic surgeons share.
James P DeVellis on Orthopedic Surgeon Traits
According to DeVellis, for someone to be an orthopedic surgeon, they need to have:
Tact and Sensitivity
First of all, an orthopedic surgeon knows that they are always at risk of allegations of misconduct. While, most of the time, these allegations are unfounded and the surgeon will voluntarily provide all the evidence of this, it is still news that nobody wants to get. Hence, they must at all times be tactful and sensitive, understanding the needs of their patients and explaining issues in a way that they understand. Sometimes, this is bad news as well, unfortunately.
Flexibility
Good surgeons also have to be flexible. They understand that patients recover at different rates and in different ways. Someone who has only had a local anesthetic may end up having difficulties for months, whereas someone else who has had full open surgery may be back on their feet within days. Whenever something doesn’t go the way it was expected, a surgeon has to be flexible enough to try something else.
Calmness
A surgeon must also be calm under pressure. They must remain calm when an old fox simply doesn’t understand why they can’t dance the night away anymore. They must be able to deal with pressure, even if things go completely wrong during surgery and something awful such as hitting an artery happens. They must also be able to remain calm in emergency situations, particularly if they deal with emergency room patients.
Dedication
It takes many years to become an orthopedic surgeon and their learning journey is never complete. They must keep their knowledge and skills up to date at all times, and they must be passionate about what they do. Unless they are dedicated not just to their profession, but also to the welfare of their patients, they should find a different job.
Excellent Coordination Skills
This is true for all surgeons. They must have a steady hand, and their hand eye coordination skills have to be truly superior to those of regular individuals. The fine motor skills a surgeon has are something to behold.
Strength
Because orthopedic surgeons deal with bones and human bodies, both of which can be heavy and are generally very tough, they must also be very strong.
It can be difficult for someone to have all the traits as described above. This is why only few people become orthopedic surgeons at all. It also means that those who are able to get to that point are generally incredibly good at what they do. They take their responsibilities seriously and they ensure that their patients have the best possible outcomes overall.