tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post1379014585959488810..comments2007-04-23T08:29:48.801-07:00Charity Dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04096425256928751601noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-42068115249683857772007-04-22T17:10:00.000-07:002007-04-22T17:10:00.000-07:00I wanted you to know that I read your blog because it is very interesting. I have been very fortunate to have had some capable ER docs in a couple of emergency situations--both of which required CT scans to find the problems (gallbladder was feeling splodey in one instance). I would consider myself lucky to be on the receiving end of your care, and I am disgusted that bean counters are involving themselves in the doctor-patient relationship.<BR/><BR/>You're a person who knows the value of life. They're trying to put a price on it. I really wish someone would take this story and run with it, lay open the facts for the public to see.RioIririhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04358432680088606342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-12295437393938468092007-04-21T05:41:00.000-07:002007-04-21T05:41:00.000-07:00Based on what you posted, there is no case, no breach. At that time, a CT scan was not indicated.<BR/>Good luck on the case. I'll be happy to help you out.The Independent Urologisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11520184749583009935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-18172463183159258412007-04-20T19:45:00.000-07:002007-04-20T19:45:00.000-07:00Those fucking assholes. That hospital doesn't deserve you. Let them rot. Walk away and never look back. I know an ER doc who opened up two walk in clinics and is hugely successful. <BR/><BR/>Sell your house/boat/car/stocks and sink everything into an urgent care clinic right next to the hospital. Demand a credit card number before you see anyone. <BR/><BR/>ER docs have an impossible job. Stop doing it. You are only making yourself crazy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-33272510310100942212007-04-19T11:49:00.000-07:002007-04-19T11:49:00.000-07:00Sigh!<BR/><BR/>Do what you gotta do man. Medicine doesn't give a damn about those who embrace it. You have to know when to walk away.Ex Uterohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08873973430700597069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-3096897589901799302007-04-18T20:53:00.000-07:002007-04-18T20:53:00.000-07:00I am sad to hear about your situation, both with the hospital and the lawsuit.<BR/><BR/>I most definitely would NOT have done a cysto initially on that lady who is suing you. She did have all the symptoms of a stereotypical UTI, and truth be told, I would have been rather peeved had you called me in the middle of the night. A urologist NEVER gets called for a simple UTI.<BR/><BR/>A urology consult would have been appropriate should she have followed up with a PCP with persistant or increasing symptoms. <BR/><BR/>Who the f@#$ is this expert witness? I want to have a few choice words with him....keagirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318775083734764508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-44225625498007141312007-04-17T14:04:00.000-07:002007-04-17T14:04:00.000-07:00I haven't been by here for a while, and I'm really sorry to see this post. I've been there: seeing such idiotic data as how many scans ordered without even thinking about the denominator is a perfect example of the idiocy of much medical data in general and of some administrators in particular. I admire your courage as much as I've admired your writing. Take a few to cool down, do some writing. The world is still your oyster, if no longer your crawfish.Sid Schwabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182853083503404098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-53893440822238199952007-04-17T12:19:00.000-07:002007-04-17T12:19:00.000-07:00I really love your blog! I read medical blogs all the time and have read quite a few, but yours quickly, quickly became my favorite. Why? Because you talk medicine candidly with a great attitude. Post after post: medicine, medicine, medicine. I love it! <BR/><BR/>Thanks for your blogging and keep doing what you're doing, in the ED and out!<BR/><BR/>-MidWest Med. StudentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-14771571920734939302007-04-17T06:30:00.000-07:002007-04-17T06:30:00.000-07:00+1 on the neck massage.<BR/><BR/>Nothing rejuvenates like a 3 am neck massage from your favorite nurse.<BR/><BR/>Really.scalpelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12163296819469420123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-66239162402701373632007-04-15T11:55:00.000-07:002007-04-15T11:55:00.000-07:00Oh for crying out loud, doc. Didn't I tell you in this comments section that it was a "tongue-in-cheek" comment? Didn't I? I happent to respect the fucking hell out of you (there, you made me go and use the F-word), and you got mad at me for poking a little fun at male doctors blog titles. <BR/><BR/>Dammit, I happen to think the world of you but I am going to be honest here and tell you that you're in a crochety mood and I'll bet dollars to donuts that your nurses are walking on eggshells around you. One of them needs to give you a neck massage or something. Anything, to calm you down. Because you're taking things too seriously.<BR/><BR/>Don't make me come to Crack City, Sir.....Bohemian Road Nurse...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02136803397641401011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-44910318106055042042007-04-14T19:44:00.000-07:002007-04-14T19:44:00.000-07:00By the way, I meant no disrespect of your blog title in my 3rd comment on Nurse Ratched's Place's posting (in which I retort to Universal Health blog's criticism of nursing blog titles such as Nurse Ratched and others and nurses' word choices in their blog postings):<BR/><BR/>http://nurse-ratcheds.blogspot.com/2007/04/in-defense-of-nurse-ratched.html<BR/><BR/>I simply used your title to make a tongue-in-cheek point about "stereotypes" and how they don't mean anything in blog titles, etc.Bohemian Road Nurse...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02136803397641401011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-51867965808486980822007-04-13T21:46:00.000-07:002007-04-13T21:46:00.000-07:00Hey Doc,<BR/>Wanted to tell you to keep your head up. Hope you're able to get through this crisis, will miss your posts, but I totally understand. That's why I believe administrators need to have medical background and spend at least 2 days a month in the trenches...tends to illuminate them a little more about the reality of life in health care.<BR/>-WandererWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09021716808644795457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-59736017482101950722007-04-13T20:52:00.000-07:002007-04-13T20:52:00.000-07:00Oh man, this is a terrible story. Just like in nursing, there are jobs from hell and jobs from heaven and you can find a better one easily.<BR/><BR/>Do keep blogging, though! At least we'll still have you here!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14955312313903598555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-31595990242052305582007-04-12T14:51:00.000-07:002007-04-12T14:51:00.000-07:00Doc,<BR/><BR/>It sounds like taking a break is precisely what you need. You don't have to retire, but pulling up a nice patch of beach and enjoying fruity drinks with umbrellas should be your first priority.<BR/><BR/>No doubt, the system is caving in under the weight of greed and stupidity. No doubt, the myriad issues in healthcare today impact you personally and have depleted your reserves. In the language of alcoholics, you've hit rock bottom. And no doubt, the world is a better place and so many tens of thousands of lives are improved because of your caring and careful work in the past.<BR/><BR/>You've made your sacrifices and taken your lumps. Giving of yourself to others is an important part of a living a life worth living, but it's not the only part. Please, take a well-deserved break from what's expected of you and spend some time just enjoying the privilege of being alive.<BR/><BR/>If you arrange things correctly, you probably have the luxury of some time, so let the muscles in your back, neck, and scalp stay continuously relaxed for a couple months before you force yourself to make the big decisions. You're a great person - it comes through clearly in your writing - so I hope you'll take care of you for a while now. And I bet you've got a whole heck of a lot of other readers who would agree with that.Erisian23noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-81507179245126244702007-04-12T08:22:00.000-07:002007-04-12T08:22:00.000-07:00DUDE... I feel your pain. I left a surgical residency mid-stream to do Pathology because of all the bullshit. Go into the light!Etotheipihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14169900465749079724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-74098427256220855752007-04-11T17:49:00.000-07:002007-04-11T17:49:00.000-07:00God Bless you doc from a fellow traveller. Right now anything seems better than what we do. I'm probably going to do a fellowship or get out entirely. Please keep us posted and good luck. Get some rest .911DOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466669111561150174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-83055583840184913052007-04-11T17:45:00.000-07:002007-04-11T17:45:00.000-07:00God Bless you doc. I'm not far behind. As much of a short-attention span guy as I am I also burdened with a pretty clear long term sensibility and I see the job we do getting harder and harder to do as we have been trained. The money is secondary but will become more and more of an issue. Right now I'm considering a fellowship in something with normal hours or a complete career change. Please keep us posted and get some rest.911DOChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06466669111561150174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-34220766279268630882007-04-11T10:53:00.000-07:002007-04-11T10:53:00.000-07:00Hopefully you'll be back in the game and hopefully in a place where you can be happier. Perhaps a break is in order so that medicine can be fun once again. <BR/><BR/>While you're still mad though, and the fact that you're an enjoyable read, perhaps you can do some writings to the right people and maybe shed some light on this problem? <BR/>I have the attention span of a gnat, but I can sit and read all of your writing.<BR/><BR/>Good luck in the future. I'll continue to read whatever you write.Type-B Premedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052911706491505470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-89091027590991499742007-04-10T22:58:00.000-07:002007-04-10T22:58:00.000-07:00I'm sorry to hear about all the bull sh*i. Kudos for standing up for what you believe in. I am sure you'll find a better fit somewhere.Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11949558570558351383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-42218862754122231022007-04-10T20:10:00.000-07:002007-04-10T20:10:00.000-07:00http://www.matsuregional.com/index_flash.php<BR/><BR/>I just visited a friend here. It's a town made of strip malls but if you look beyond it and you needn't look that far, you will see mountains and luxury homes. They are 45 minutes from 4-star dining in Anchorage and Broadway plays. (And Chilkoot Charlie's!) There were freaking MOOSE in the hospital parking lot in January! It's amazing!<BR/><BR/>You can go there and rename your blog to Mountain ER Doc. They have their fair share of methamphetamine use (it's the national capitol for production!) and a few gang related skirmishes but you'll also be treating injuries suffered from fishing and hunting accidents and the usual problems associated with every day life.<BR/><BR/>Good luck!Mutti-Maman-Mama-MammaMia-Miss Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16399889311375477109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-53910443361697168692007-04-10T10:40:00.000-07:002007-04-10T10:40:00.000-07:00You know in my experience hospital administration, as a whole are not too bright. I am the medical librarian. I pull and do the research for both groups. <BR/><BR/>Doctors: position won by decades of grinding mind numbing school and advanced degrees accumulating unbelievable debt, taking all the hard courses since you were 10, years of residencies, years of no holidays, weekends or uninterrupted nights sleep, 16 hr days, dealing with really sad situations on occasion, and you are the one with a license that gets sued ….. Vs. administration: position often won by social contacts, a MBA now available on the internet, and a salary often over $100,000. I think the key with administration is that they must move on often before everyone sees the emperor has no clothes. <BR/><BR/>You could see in about 10 seconds all the flaws in their feeble attempt at a study. Sadly a study they probably worked many months on, ordered special computer software programs for, and will drag out often as their crowning achievement....<BR/><BR/>You know, even on a personnel level the person presenting the information should have met with you before the meeting and asked for input.<BR/><BR/>Why are you letting people who have no idea what they are doing, perfect examples of the Peter Principle, who are only going to stay a few years before they move on, make you quit or do anything you don’t want to do. I have been fired and rehired more then once. Administration fires me and then the medical staff makes them rehire me. Often in the same day, I don't even have to leave my desk. I really like my job. I am seldom influenced by anything they tell me to do, and still celebrating 20 some years of passive resistance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-81838737290762587402007-04-10T08:39:00.000-07:002007-04-10T08:39:00.000-07:00Our administration recently came to our meeting with stats on how many uninsured patients we each admitted implying "too many".<BR/><BR/>Their second message was "pay attention to EMTALA. We don't want any violations or investigations."<BR/><BR/>What a bunch of f******'sAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-62051482426392444062007-04-10T08:00:00.000-07:002007-04-10T08:00:00.000-07:00Best wishesDr Dorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038767903911860667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-13238938816601833402007-04-10T07:37:00.000-07:002007-04-10T07:37:00.000-07:00Guess what? This is reality. Welcome to the future of medicine. The same subject - overordering of ct scans - was discussed at our ER docs last meeting. This is the future of medicine where liability concerns and the financial bottom line collide. Its only the beginning.girlvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431758200580814440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-21090356744981312172007-04-10T07:34:00.000-07:002007-04-10T07:34:00.000-07:00Guess what? This is reality. It is happening all over the country. This same thing (CT ordering) was discussed at out ER docs meeting last week. Welcome to the future of medicine where liability worries and financial bottom line collide.girlvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431758200580814440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22584268.post-59807206160083353832007-04-09T22:12:00.000-07:002007-04-09T22:12:00.000-07:00OH Man. Do I hear what you are saying. My stats: 7 years of EM practice. 5 lawsuits (all bullsh**). 2 of them filed by illegal aliens refered to some lawyer sharks who specialize in that CRAPPOLA by the Mexican Consulate. And the usual mountain of administrative bullshit.<BR/><BR/>I seriously considered biting the bullet and pursuing a different residency (derm, gas, or rads) but found that it might be tough to get into programs because the residencies with not get their $$ from the government if you are doing a second residency.<BR/><BR/>So it has me by the balls, I have a family to provide for. Plus, I am a damn good doc. A lot of prayer and mountain biking has helped. I know think I understand Solomons bood of Ecclesiastes. For know this is my lot in life.chucknoreply@blogger.com