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CUTTING REMARKS
my part, I have to read the chart verbatim and enunciate like
Shakespeare — the omission of 1 word can send the powers that be
into a tailspin. Yes, this is truly an important step, but for those of us
who suffer from ADHD, the mere pause to slowly
Just when you
deliver this soliloquy can be extremely painful.
thought it couldn't
4. Electronic sign out. Just when you thought it
get harder, here
couldn't get harder, here comes the electronic
comes the
medical record with all its rules and regulations.
The list of compulsories includes: surgeon sign-in, electronic medical
record. Last time
patient identification, sign off, time in, meds
I checked so many
renewed … blah, blah. Last time I checked so
boxes, I
many boxes, I was refinancing my home. Thank
was refinancing
God I've learned to navigate the labyrinth more
my home.
quickly, but I'd rather be fishin'.
5. Update the H&P. This one gets my Irish up more
than any other. Delays to surgery include "expiration dates" of the history and physical. If the H&P was signed 30 days and 3 hours ago,
guess what! It has to be updated! Heaven forbid that the health of the
18-year-old all-state miler scheduled for knee arthroscopy took a turn
for the worse in the past 24 hours! We wouldn't want to miss anything. Gimme another break!
Whose interests are we serving?
Rules and regulations are essential to running a safe operating room. I
just wish they were conceived with solely the patients' best interests at
heart. In this litigious culture, I just keep telling myself, "Dream on, Kel."
OSM
Dr. Kelly (johndak 4@g mail.com) is an orthopedic surgeon/sports-shoulder specialist who practices in Philadelphia, Pa.
D E C E M B E R 2013 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
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