Monday, March 28, 2011

Fun with hospital operators

5 comments:

  1. My average is two tries, but yes, it is heartening to hear that this doesn't just happen to me. I feel bad for all the poor souls I've paged out of bed because I was given the wrong on call person.

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  2. Oye...if I had a dollar for every time the hospital operator sent someone calling for OB/GYN to my line, I'd be a millionare. I'm not sure what about "Kate" or "Allergy Clinic" (who I am/where I work) sounds enough like "Vagina Department" to continue getting them so confused.

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  3. Its nothing like being in a smaller hospital & the operator has no clue who you're trying to get in touch with.

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  4. I love the vindicating fourth try you drew here, where the current operator was able to find, despite the previous operator being adamant that the place you wanted to contact was the hospital's Narnia.

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  5. Hospital operator here. Most of the time, I can only give information as accurate as it is given to me--I know that at my current facility changes will happen or extensions will change and we won't be notified. All of the time, though, the last thing I want to do is ruin your day by sending you to the wrong person, or by waking you up at 0300 when it's not your night. Mistakes will happen--I've had docs rip me a new one once or twice--but I try to keep 'em to a minimum. I just want to do the best I can. I feel bad whenever a doctor or nurse calls and they're in a bad mood--I know their jobs are a lot more hectic than mine, and I hope that their shift gets better. I know that in the grand scheme of things I'm quite a small cog, but I still want to do my bit for you all.

    However their is one coworker that I wish I could slap 'till I can't raise my arm one more time, she has cottage cheese for brains, she froze up on a code blue--I have no idea why she's still here. So I understand the frustration! There are plenty of us who do try our best to keep on top of things, and I apologize on behalf of the morons :P

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