65 - Five valuable lessons COVID-19 taught Intensive Care in 2020

Thank you for listening to the ninth and final episode of the Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta series. If you’ve listened to the series, you’ll know my friend Ed Litton and I entered a four-day stage trail running event, the Run Larapinta Stage Race, and ran, climbed, descended, scrambled and walked with 200 other enthusiastic participants along a mountainous and rugged trail in the spectacular red centre of Australia. Ed and I thought these conversations on the podcast might help others in setting and completing endurance exercise challenges, something we both prioritise in supporting our well-being to keep bringing our best selves to work in the ICU. In this episode, we thought we’d record a final episode to reflect on how we have recovered, what the whole experience meant, what we learned from the challenge and what might be next for each of us? Thank you for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Relevant links Image Credit: James Tudor from Forktail Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Ed Litton on Strava Andrew Davies on Strava Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 2  Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 3 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 4 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 5 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 6 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 7 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 8 Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies

This is the 8th episode of the "Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta" series and if you’ve been listening to the previous ones, you’ll know that this episode is coming out after the four day stage race that fellow intensivist Ed Litton and I set ourselves the challenge of running many months ago. Two Intensive Care doctors, both novices at trail running, looking for something moderately hard, something we could do together, and something we could talk about on the show to hopefully inspire you and other listeners to go for a run or to set yourself your own exercise challenge. We’ve had regular conversations in the lead up to the event, held from August 24th-27th, on the spectacular Larapinta trail, near Alice Springs in the red centre of Australia, and now it’s time to tell you how it all played out. Did we make it? Were there obstacles? How hard was it? And did it measure up to our expectations? Thanks for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Relevant links Image Credit: James Tudor from Forktail Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Ed Litton on Strava Andrew Davies on Strava Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 2  Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 3 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 4 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 5 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 6 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 7 Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies

Fellow intensivist Ed Litton and I signed up for a big challenge 10 months ago when we registered to run in the Run Larapinta, a 4-day stage race in central Australia. We’ve both completed many endurance events, however neither of us have done any serious trail running nor have we ever run 130km in 4 days on a rocky and mountainous trail like the beautiful Larapinta trail in the Northern Territory of Australia. It’s now only a week away so Ed and I had a conversation to update each other on our recent training before answering 5 questions we thought were worth asking each other at this final stage of our preparations. What’s worked well in our preparations? What’s not worked well in our preparations? What’s the focus of the remaining time? What have we learned from taking on this challenge? What is exciting us about the upcoming challenge? We hope you’ll enjoy listening to the conversation, and that it might inspire you to get out for a run or for any type of exercise that suits you. Thanks for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Relevant links Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Ed Litton on Strava Andrew Davies on Strava Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 2  Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 3 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 4 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 5 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 6 Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

To help Ed Litton and I get really prepared for the Run Larapinta stage race we are only a few weeks away from competing in, today we bring a seasoned ultra trail running doctor on to the podcast to share her advice. In this sixth episode of the Mastering Intensive Challenges series, we welcome Dr Cheryl Martin, who is an Emergency Medicine specialist, a podcaster and has huge experience in trail running, including ultra marathons. Cheryl’s podcast, the Mind Full Medic podcast, explores health, wellbeing, optimal performance and professional fulfilment, with a focus on doctors and healthcare. I love listening to it, and the best bit for me is that Cheryl has interviewed a bunch of endurance athletes including several high performing ultra runners. Today we thought we’d ask Cheryl lots of questions about our training and our preparations including heat adaptation, nutrition, footwear and other aspects that will hopefully help us to complete this event successfully. We hope you’ll enjoy listening to the conversation, especially if you are a trail runner yourself. If not, hopefully it might inspire you to get out for a run or for any type of exercise that suits you. Thanks for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing   ---------------------   Relevant links Dr Cheryl Martin on LinkedIn Cheryl Martin on Twitter: @mindfullmedic  Cheryl Martin on Instagram: @themindfullmedicpodcast  Cheryl Martin on Strava The Mind Full Medic podcast The Mind Full Medic podcast - Episode with Dr Kellie Angel Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Ed Litton on Strava Andrew Davies on Strava Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 2  Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 3 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 4 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 5 Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

This is the fifth episode in the Mastering Intensive Care - Run Larapinta series. Ed Litton and I are back on opposite sides of Australia, and neither of us has had the perfect three weeks since we last chatted. There are now less than seven weeks until the event starts, so we chat about our training, then swing over to what we are each thinking about the logistical challenges we will be presented with. We hope you’ll enjoy listening to the conversation, even if you prefer the couch to your running shoes. If we can inspire you to get out for some exercise, that would be even better. Thanks for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing. --------------------   Relevant links Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Ed Litton on Strava Andrew Davies on Strava Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 2 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 3 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 4 Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

Here is another episode in the Mastering Intensive Care - Run Larapinta series. For this one, I travelled to Perth to meet with my Run Larapinta co-participant Ed Litton and to head out for a few runs together over a three day weekend. We also set up the microphones to update each other with our preparations and to discuss our perspectives on the social aspects of exercise, mainly endurance sport. We talked about group training, family support, and even using the social media platform Strava to share inspiration. We hope you’ll enjoy listening to the conversation, whatever exercise you choose to do. Thanks for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Relevant links Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Ed Litton on Strava Andrew Davies on Strava Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 2 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 3 Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

This is a follow on episode as Ed Litton and I continue our discussion about the Run Larapinta Stage Race we will be participating in soon. Ed and I tell each other how our running training is going. Then we talk about our general views on nutrition and sleep, especially as we lead into a multi-day endurance event. One of us has picked up a little niggle. And each of us has a different approach to what we consume during long runs. It might not be what we talk about on regular episodes of Mastering Intensive Care but we hope you’ll enjoy listening to the conversation, whether you run, walk, cycle, hike, workout in the gym, or do whatever is your style of physical activity. Thanks for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Relevant links Book “Community" (by Hetty McKinnon) Book “Eat & Run” (by Scott Jurek) Rich Roll podcast Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 2 Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

This episode features the wise perspectives of an Advanced Trainee in Intensive Care Medicine, Dr William Bonavia. The discussion covers: Why he chose medicine and Intensive Care His training journey and his learning strategy What makes a good ward round Learning from colleagues The principles of good communication and collaboration The value of work being fun Making mistakes Dealing with the pressures of the job His thoughts on sleep, exercise, resilience and burnout Gender inequity in training The future of his career Tips for fellow trainees Will Bonavia is an Intensive Care Trainee at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and has previously worked at Peninsula Health ICU. He has an interest in teaching, having previously played a role in tutorial, simulation and workshop environments, as well as coordinating a training program for ICU trainees sitting the CICM first part examination. He is also interested in staff welfare and has worked as a trainee representative within his intensive care department at Peninsula Health.   Will has an interest in the long term outcomes of ICU patients and has published research in the area of delirium prediction models. He is currently working on research in the area of persistent critical illness and long term outcomes of critically ill ICU patients with COVID-19. Outside of work, Will enjoys a rotating roster of hobbies but is currently an avid squash enthusiast.  Will has a highly compassionate and careful communication-focused approach. Whether you are a trainee, a fully fledged consultant or someone else involved in the practice of Intensive Care, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr Will Bonavia. Andrew Davies -------------------- About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing. -------------------- Relevant links Life In The Fast Lane Book “One Billion Years to the End of the World” (by Arkady Strugatsky & Boris Strugatsky) Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

In this second of a different style episode, Ed Litton and I continue our discussion about the Run Larapinta Stage Race we will be embarking on in August 2023.  Ed and I talk about our preparation and then tell each other why we run, and what we get out of it. Ed is a multi-sport endurance athlete whose reasons for getting out in nature are deep and truly inspiring. We hope you’ll enjoy hearing this conversation, whether you run, walk, cycle, hike, work out in the gym, or do whatever is your style of physical activity. Thanks for listening.   Andrew Davies   --------------------   About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.   --------------------   Relevant links Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton Ed Litton at University of Western Australia Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 1 Run Larapinta Stage Race Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media

This episode features the memories, experiences and wisdom of Dr Lindsay ‘Tub’ Worthley, AM. The discussion covers the following: Tub’s training to become an intensivist when no specific training existed His experience at a time when Australian ICUs were in their infancy The difference between the beginning and the end of his clinical career His eventual transition to retirement His writing of textbooks, scientific papers, editorials and a memoir What he learned about humanity in the ICU Working and communicating with various team members Enthusiastic leadership and the importance of a smooth-running team How he maintained his wellbeing His potential concern for the future of intensive care Some long-lasting career advice Tub worked as an intensive care medical specialist at the Royal Adelaide hospital ICU between 1971 and 1991, before moving to the Flinders Medical Centre ICU, where he worked until 2007. He retired from active clinical intensive care practice in 2009 although his legacy remains through his prolific writing (of scientific papers, editorials and books). Tub has been a passionate and highly respected postgraduate teacher in intensive care medicine, establishing and running the Adelaide Short Course on Intensive Care Medicine (known colloquially as “Tub’s course) from 1983 – 2005. The course continues today and is now known as the South Australian CICM Fellowship Exam Course. He created the journal “Critical Care and Resuscitation” and was the inaugural Editor-In-Chief for 6 years. He has also served as President of ANZICS, as an examiner for several Colleges and as a convener of many conferences. Tub is married to Janice and has 3 sons and 8 grandchildren, all of who he loves dearly. In 2010 he was appointed as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for “Service to medical education, particularly in the area of intensive care medicine, as a clinician, mentor and educator, and through contributions to professional associations”. His books are: - Worthley LIG. Synopsis of Intensive Care Medicine. London: Churchill Livingstone, 1994. - Worthley LIG. Handbook of Emergency Laboratory Tests. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1996. - Worthley LIG. Clinical examination of the critically ill patient, 3rd Ed. Melbourne: The Australasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine, 2006. - Worthley LIG. Inside God’s shed: memoirs of an intensive care specialist. Adelaide: JANDL Holdings Pty Ltd, 2014. Most importantly, Tub was one of the consultants responsible for my training, so this episode is a big thrill for me. Thanks for listening to a true colossus of intensive care, Dr Tub Worthley. Andrew Davies -------------------- About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing. -------------------- Relevant links "Tub's Course"  Book “Inside God's shed: memoirs of an intensive care specialist" (by Lindsay Worthley) Journal “Critical Care and Resuscitation” Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 5 with Jamie Cooper Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on LinkedIn Email Andrew Davies Audio Producer Chris Burke Burke Sound & Media