Dr. J. Douglas Muir: Case Study

Dr. J. Douglas Muir and his older sister were raised by their parents in a somewhat rural community in Arkansas. Growing up, he enjoyed ornithology and science. Doug graduated from the University of Arkansas with a B.S. in Zoology. Following graduation, he worked as a phlebotomist at a VA clinic in the psych ward and discovered he really enjoyed listening to patients. At that point, he decided to pursue a career in medicine. After completing the necessary tests, Doug was accepted into University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), where he received his M.D. in 2006. During his medical residency rotations, he again spent time working in a VA psych ward. It was at that time, he decided to pursue psychiatry.
In 2011, after completing his residency and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at UAMS, Dr. Muir became board certified in both …show more content…
Muir says that Planetree means improving the quality of care for patients. Additionally, Planetree means holistically including all levels of care (spiritual, mental, etc.), while emphasizing what truly matters to patients. Furthermore, it is truly being patient-centered by listening to what patients need and want, as opposed to just telling them “this is how it is”. Doug believes the Planetree philosophy also means listening to staff. He values how North Valley Hospital’s leadership really listens to staff, while not showing partiality based on title or department.
Dr. Muir brings the Planetree philosophy into his daily life and work by treating his patients holistically, talking with them about all aspects of health. In addition to therapy and administering meds, Doug discusses nutrition, spirituality, aerobic exercise, etc. He encourages his patients to be active and significant participants in decision making regarding their care. Doug also values his staff and encourages everyone to provide input. He sees them as a team, where everyone has a