11: The Smartest Doctor in the Room with Dean Mitchell, MD & guest Dr. Tony Dajer11: The Smartest Doctor in the Room with Dean Mitchell, MD & guest Dr. Tony Dajer
UK Health Radio Podcast
Dr. Dean Mitchell talks with retired ER doctor Dr. Tony Dajer about how patients can prepare for emergency care, when to choose the ER over urgent care and why clear communication and advocacy can affect outcomes. Real-life cases highlight how delays and misdiagnoses happen, and what practical steps may help keep patients safer.
50:04•18 Aug 2026
How to Survive the ER: Dr. Dean Mitchell Talks with Dr. Tony Dajer
Episode Overview
- Be clear on why you are going to the ER today and explain what feels different, especially in light of your medical history.
- Bring your medication list, relevant records and, whenever possible, a family member or friend who can advocate and describe changes in your condition.
- In serious situations, calling an ambulance can be life-saving, as paramedics can assess urgency and take you to the most appropriate hospital.
- Use urgent care for straightforward problems, but choose the ER—and sometimes a paediatric or teaching hospital—for complex, worsening or high-risk symptoms.
- If you are sent home and are not completely better by the next day, treat that as important information and return rather than trying to “tough it out”.
“"If you're not all better tomorrow morning, 100% better, doing cartwheels and jumping jacks, and you're back to normal, I want you back."”
Curious about how others manage medical emergencies when everything feels chaotic? This conversation between Dr. Dean Mitchell and retired ER physician Dr. Tony Dajer shares straight-talking advice on how to get the best care when things get serious. Across four decades in emergency medicine, Dr. Dajer has seen crowded departments, system bottlenecks and heartbreaking misses. Here, he breaks down what patients and families can do to protect themselves.
You’ll hear why he says the first question is, “Why are you going today?” and how clearly explaining your concern, your history and what feels different this time can shape the care you get. The pair talk through practical steps: when calling an ambulance is the smartest move, why bringing an advocate with you matters, and how to choose between urgent care and the ER using real-life style scenarios.
There’s also a lively chat about paediatric vs adult emergency departments, and how subtle cultural habits in hospitals can help or hurt patients. Some of the most gripping moments come from stories of misdiagnosis and near-fatal delays, including cases of missed appendicitis and a young person whose worsening condition was repeatedly labelled as “just a virus”. These stories aren’t used to scare, but to underline one theme: you’re allowed to speak up if things don’t feel right. Dr.
Dajer also lifts the lid on what makes a high-functioning ER from the inside – strong leadership, scribes or AI tools to free doctors from computers, and a culture where staff openly learn from mistakes instead of burying them. If you’re in recovery, supporting someone with health issues, or just anxious about hospitals, you’ll come away with concrete questions to ask, warning signs to watch for and a reminder that “not worse” is not the same as “better”.
Next time you—or someone you love—lands in A&E, will you know how to ask for the care you need?
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