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national doctor’s day

Imaging & Laboratory in victoria

National Doctor’s Day: Dr. Hathorn

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March 30th is National Doctor’s Day, and Victoria ER wants to shine the spotlight on one of our amazing physicians. Dr. Joseph Hathorn is an emergency physician at Victoria ER and has been practicing emergency medicine in Texas for over 15 years.

To learn more about Dr. Hathorn and his experience, we were able to ask him some questions about why working at an emergency facility like Victoria ER is so special.

  1. Tell us about an average day in the life of an ER Doctor.

“I generally start the day by checking the patient log from the previous day. These are patients that I will need to do call backs on for that day. We call back all of our patients to follow-up with them and see how they are doing. I generally start calling patients from the previous day during the late morning or early afternoon hours.

“After checking the patient log, I will eat breakfast and mentally prepare myself for the shift. Throughout the day, when there is down time, I will generally catch up on anything that I wasn’t able to take care of on the previous day.”

  1. What is your favorite part of your day?

“I enjoy the early morning and late shifts the most, as strange as that might sound. Those are quieter times of day, when I can catch up on my patient files and make sure we’re ready for the rest of the day and night. It is relaxing!”

  1. When did you know that you wanted to be a doctor?

“I knew in high school. I had a Physics teacher during my junior year, who told me to consider medicine as a career. Having that kind of encouragement had an effect on me, and early on gave me some direction. I found my passion for it in medical school when I got to connect with patients and start to really practice medicine, instead of just studying it.”

  1. How do you think your work at your facility is making the healthcare industry better?

“Our goal is to make the ER more accessible for patients, and to focus on giving them the treatment they deserve. The idea is to place the highest value on their time by getting them treated quickly, and value them as individuals by giving them respect and dignity. Patients generally don’t get this in the hospital environment because of the overcrowding and sometimes inadequate resources.”

  1. How has working in medicine changed your life?

“Medicine has made me appreciate things that most people may take for granted. This may be because of what I have seen over my almost 18 years of ER practice. The little day-to-day mishaps that may be trivial for some are having a bigger impact on others as I continue practicing emergency medicine. The importance of healthy living and taking care of yourself has become clear to me as a must for balance and success in life.”

 

Victoria ER is proud to have Dr. Hathorn practicing on our medical team. This National Doctor’s Day we appreciate and honor all that he does at our facility.

Dr Hathorn obtained his medical degree from the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. He completed his Emergency Medicine Residency from the King Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. Dr Hathorn has been in Emergency Medicine clinical practice for the past 17 years.

Dr Hathorn is Board Certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. He currently resides in Houston, TX. His wife is a Board Certified Ob-Gyn practicing in Houston, TX. They both have 2 children, ages 4 and 7.

Nutex Health, Inc. supports you and your family’s health. Come visit Victoria ER or any one of our concierge-level freestanding facilities for the emergency care you deserve, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

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Celebrating National Doctor’s Day With Q&A

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There are over 45,000 emergency physicians in the U.S., and at Victoria ER, we have the some of the best of these doctors practicing at our facility.

Since it’s National Doctor’s Day, we’re going to hear from of our physicians, Dr. Joseph Hathorn, on why he become a physician and how Victoria ER bridges the gap between a traditional emergency department and concierge-style care.

 

What made you want to become a physician?

When I was in high school, I had a Physics teacher encourage me to consider a career in medicine. It was always a consideration but I didn’t really seriously focus on the possibility until after that point. Having a well-respected teacher who believed in me like that had a huge effect. When I entered college I had already made my mind up that I would be pre-med. I think going into college knowing exactly what I wanted to do helped me to become impervious to the typical distractions that college kids, especially freshmen, can easily fall prey to.

So, what’s a typical day at the facility look like for you?

My day at the facility typically starts at 9am. When I first come in, I check with the outgoing physician to see if there are any patients that need to be signed out so that I can assume care. If there are patients, we will go over the patient’s history and current status in the facility and see if there are any pending test results.

After that is done, I will go to my call room and get myself ready for the day. I will usually eat breakfast and get myself settled in for the day. I will do patient callbacks, something that the oncoming physician must do, usually during the first portion of the shift.

If there is any down time or a period where there are no patients, I may try to catch up on reading or spend some time on anything that needs my immediate attention.

How does Victoria ER differ from other emergency departments?

Working at this facility is a “breath of fresh air” when compared to a typical hospital ER. Unlike at the hospital, I can see patients very quickly and give them the quality time and service that they truly deserve. Patients are very appreciative of this and we know it makes a difference in their care experience.

I also like the fact that test results come back much faster when compared to the hospital. This means our patients are on their way to feeling better, faster. Our staff is motivated by the positive patient experience and in return, they’re able to perform their jobs optimally. It is a win-win for the patients and the staff taking care of them.

Victoria ER is a state-of-the-art facility with CT scanner, X-Ray and ultrasound in addition to our comprehensive list of lab services. Our ER trained and experienced physicians are committed to providing with you the no-wait, exceptional emergency care experience you deserve 24/7. Your health and satisfaction is our priority.

Want to learn more about the services we provide? Check out this page. 

Nutex Health, Inc. supports you and your family’s health. Come visit Victoria Emergency Center or any one of our concierge-level freestanding facilities for the emergency care you deserve, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.