You’ve heard her every episode, but now it’s time to get to know her a bit higher. On this episode of Off the Charts, we talk with our co-host, Dr. Kari Haley. She’s the assistant medical director of Regions Hospital EMS and an emergency medicine doctor who cares for patients on the front lines of the COVID pandemic day by day.
She talks with us about growing up in a small town, what it’s like within the emergency room and the way she keeps going when things are stressful. Hearken to the episode or read the transcript.
Growing up in Delano
Dr. Haley was adopted from South Korea by parents in Delano, Minnesota. Though she grew up in a small town and predominantly white community, she had a terrific childhood. She stayed within the Midwest for many of her life, eventually attending the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and moving to the Twin Cities to work at Regions Hospital.
Working in emergency medicine during a pandemic
After attending a research program that took place in an emergency department, Dr. Haley knew she desired to work in emergency medicine. But working within the emergency room isn’t easy. There have been changes to the variety of patients and the severity of cases because the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Along with patients who’re battling COVID-19, Dr. Haley and her team treat several people who find themselves sick with chronic illnesses. She’s helped people get well from every part from severe asthma to extreme mental health crises. And the challenge of helping so many sick people is taking its toll. It’s difficult to get well from the stress and leave work at work.
How Dr. Haley keeps getting in stressful times
Dr. Haley has been careful about carving out time for herself so she will be able to shake off a few of the pressures of labor. She gets outdoors when she will be able to, spending time together with her daughters while mountain climbing and camping. Cooking is one other favorite activity that she does to alleviate stress. And she or he made the choice to in the reduction of on her clinical hours so she could pursue other projects outside of the emergency room, including the Off the Charts podcast.
Hearken to the episode to learn more about Dr. Haley.