Imagine completing all your charting and tasks during work hours, leaving no homework behind and gaining more time for family and self-care?

In this practical episode, Dr. Laura Suttin interviews Dr. Sarah Smith, as she recounts her transformation from endless after-hours work to a sustainable clinical routine while practicing in Australia and Canada.

They explore:

• Charting as an optimizable skill through noticing habits and curiosity
• Building team support to work at the top of your license and eliminate low-value tasks
• Efficient inbox management and patient request navigation within time constraints
• The potential and pitfalls of AI tools in documentation

Drawing from real-life coaching experiences and clinical insights, Dr. Smith shares actionable methods for clinicians to redesign their days, minimize interruptions, and create systems that prioritize wellbeing and quality patient care amid rising demands.

If you're a clinician overwhelmed by charting and burnout, this episode offers relatable strategies to regain control, foster team collaboration, and build a fulfilling practice.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

• Practice noticing without judgment: Observe why you're staying late or falling behind. e.g., "I noticed only one chart got done today"—to identify small changes like prioritizing tasks in the moment, reducing evening work.
• Redistribute team tasks: Discuss daily workflows with staff to offload non-clinician duties (appointment rescheduling or ultrasound bookings), freeing up time for high-level work without adding to anyone's burden.
• Streamline inbox and requests: Use fewer words, batch process messages, and defer non-urgents safely—e.g., "Your blood work is stable; repeat in three months"—to clear items quickly while ensuring patient safety and efficiency.

About the Show:

Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves.

About the Guest:

Dr. Sarah Smith is a rural family physician in Alberta, Canada, specializing in emergency and hospitalist care. As a charting coach, she helps clinicians restructure their days to finish tasks within work hours, reducing burnout and promoting balance. With experience in Australia and Canada, she empowers professionals through coaching and her podcast, Sustainable Clinical Medicine.

Website: https://www.chartingcoach.ca

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-smith-999101200/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechartingcoach/?hl=en

About the Host:

Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine.

Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul.

When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together.

🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/
📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD

The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.