During residency, I became close friends with Dr. John Turner. After several years working in emergency medicine, we discussed our frustration with hospital administrators having such a powerful influence over the way emergency medicine was practiced. We felt there had to be a better way for us to practice emergency medicine that aligned with what we considered best for the patients, staff, and ourselves as physicians. We learned about freestanding emergency centers from one of Dr. Turner's friends. The more we learned about the industry, the more we knew it was the style of emergency medicine we wanted to practice. Separating from the hospital and taking on this business venture is one of the best decisions we’ve made in our careers and we are very satisfied with the work that we are doing now.

The most rewarding part of this work is to hear about the high level of satisfaction our patients experience and the great work environment we create for our staff. Our patients are the most important reason we are doing the work that we are. Anytime I have a meeting with my staff I ask them, "Why are we here? Why are we doing what we’re doing? Why do we show up for work?" The resounding answer is the right answer - we are here for our patients. We knew that there had to be a better experience for patients than waiting countless hours to see a doctor, waiting to receive treatment, and then waiting to feel better. By efficiently taking care of patients, we create patient satisfaction which then, in turn, makes our staff very happy. I often hear from the staff, "No one ever thanked me at my old job."

One of the biggest challenges of managing and operating a stand-alone emergency center is trying to get the communities and other medical facilities to understand what we do. When I tell people that I work at a freestanding emergency center, the usual response is "oh, like an urgent care?"  Anyone in the industry knows that we are so much more than that. I explain that primary care and urgent care are both very essential parts of medical services, but they have their limitations; sometimes patients need a higher level of care that is immediately available, and that is where our industry comes in. We care, evaluate, and treat complicated emergency conditions such as abdominal pain, large lacerations, traumatic head injuries, broken bones, chest pain, shortness of breath, and headaches. I can always tell when they understand because the look on their face changes from confusion to a smile and they say, "That sounds like something I can use!"

Having connections with other TAFEC members has been extremely beneficial. Belonging to an organization that promotes the industry as a whole and provides a consistent message to the public, legislature, and media is very important because we are a new segment of medicine that is long overdue. It's time to rethink the way patients have access to medical care, and TAFEC and its members are the change agents that will make it happen.