Patricia Bruens, MD

Bio

I moved with my family to the Bay Area from Wisconsin in 1997. Although still a Midwesterner at heart, I have happily embraced the healthy lifestyle and appreciation of the outdoors that prevails in this part of the country, a lifestyle that was more challenging to subscribe to back in the daunting climate of the Great Lakes Region! Practicing at Kaiser Permanente promotes and enhances that healthy lifestyle and is embedded in the culture of the place.

When I joined Kaiser Permanente, I had some reservations about practicing in an HMO. I had heard the typical myths about HMOs - you know - about financial considerations dictating care and about doctors withholding expensive tests and treatments to serve the bottom line. I vowed that if I found that to be the case, I would leave the organization. My practice philosophy has always been to deliver the kind of care that I would want my family and friends to receive - no exceptions! I was immediately pleased to discover that, for Kaiser Permanente at least, the myths aren't true, and I can honestly say that my practice here has only the best interests of each patient at heart, with no interference from so-called "bean-counters."

My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

Emergency Medicine provides a good match with my personality. I enjoy the fast pace and the challenge of rapidly collecting and synthesizing information about each individual's circumstance at the moment. Every case is different because each individual patient brings something unique to the table. This means I can never slip into a state of boredom or routine.

Interacting with patients and their families at times of crisis in their lives often poses a unique opportunity for those of us who practice emergency medicine. How we handle those crises often has long term ramifications, and I appreciate the challenge of getting it right when the stakes are so high. I can honestly say that I enjoy my job more each day, a fact that indirectly benefits not only patients and their families, but helps me to thrive with them.

Finally, the other great privilege of practicing emergency medicine, for me at least, is that it serves as a daily reminder of something so basic but something that is so easy to lose sight of. In this profession we see individual lives being turned upside down in an instant, sometimes with tragic consequences. And after each absorbing emotional experience of helping the patient or family deal with the tragedy, I am left with the potent reminder that every day is a gift that we need to treat as such: to live each day to the fullest, love the ones around us, appreciate life's bounty great and small, and to remember to thrive in our time on this earth!

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

To have an even greater impact, I have been involved over the years with medical quality assurance activities, physician education programs, and participation in our national specialty organization, The American College of Emergency Physicians. I have been elected to and served on the state board of directors, and I place great importance on maintaining my Board Certification so I can stay up-to-date on the latest innovations in emergency medicine. I am also a member of the Sonoma County Medical Association and State and National AMA as well.

Current projects or research:

I recently attended a conference in San Francisco where the presenters combed the emergency literature published over the last year and summarized it for the attendees. This is one way in which I can stay on top of the latest information in my field.

My current ongoing project is learning Spanish, with an emphasis on medical Spanish. I am doing this to better communicate with a substantial segment of the patients I serve.

Great health resources that I refer to:

Aside from the online information all doctors are privy to, Kaiser Permanente provides a wealth of information for both its doctors and patients. I particularly utilize MD Consult and use our online library to keep abreast of our current protocols and procedures.

Interests

Currently reading:
American Pastoral by Phillip Roth

My favorite book or author:
Lorrie Moore

Great movie:
March of the Penguins

Family & Friends

My children and people I care about:

Besides my practice, my other great (and even more important) priority is the raising of my two children, a boy in high school and a girl in college who are both excellent students and great human beings! We enjoy our time together through love, mutual respect and a great deal of humor. Included is a recent picture of me with my son backpacking in Desolation Wilderness this summer. There is also a picture of my daughter at Reed College in Portland.

Over the years I have been involved in school and community service projects that not only benefit my children and the community but serve to set a good example for them.

Of course, I spend a lot of my free time with friends as well, sharing great fun times but also trying to be there for the bad times as well as the good. It has been especially fun to travel with various friends and family over the years.

Travel

An adventure I've had:

Kaiser Permanente provides generous vacation benefits which help its physicians thrive by re-charging our collective batteries. I use the time to indulge my love of travel. Included is a picture from a recent trip to Cancun with two of my dearest friends. My practice partner Dr Ewing and I are about to travel to Nice, France for an international emergency medicine conference, both to keep our skills fresh and have a bit of fun on the side.

Favorite place in the world:

This will be my eighth trip to France. I have been going there since childhood and started learning the language at a young age, under the influence of my family. However, if I had to pick my favorite place I've traveled over the years, it would have to be Greece. The land is beautiful and the people are great. Turkey has been interesting as well.

Other Links & Photos