Background: A high staff turn-over and crowding are common problems in emergency departments (EDs). These problems coexist with a gradual decrease in hospital beds per capita. Many emergency physicians report burnout and plan to resign. Therefore, mostly inexperienced physicians, early in their career, are responsible for front-line emergency care. Methods: Literature review and analysis of work environment in EDs. Based on this, structural and individual measures were proposed in order to optimize the work environment for physicians. Results: Working conditions in the ED could be improved through modified back-up, checklists/algorithms, increased number of hospital beds, and optimal use of available beds, and a revision of the current shift organization. Conclusions: We hope that this analysis will prompt a debate that may lead to improvements in work satisfaction, resource utilization and quality of care.

Background: Physicians are regularly confronted with a wide range of settings requiring good communication skills. Deficient communication is the main reason for patient complaints.Methods: A literature review and personal experiences of communication techniques used by physicians in intensive care units and cardiac wards.Results: Good communication can increase medical adherence and motivate patients to life-style changes and therefore improve outcomes, resolve or prevent conflicts, increase patients’ satisfaction with offered health care, decrease anxiety and depressive symptoms, instill hope and also make hospital staff feel better.Conclusions: In this article, different models aiming at achieving optimal results in diverse communication situations are described. Healthcare leaders and medical educators should encourage physicians to use the communication techniques presented in this review to optimize the interaction with patients, relatives and colleagues.