Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Dr. Orthochick: Overslept

I totally overslept yesterday morning and didn't actually make it down to work until 6:30. I think I hit "off" instead of "snooze," which happens to me every now and then. Fortunately I wasn't scheduled for any early cases and I only had three patients, so the situation was nowhere near as bad as it could have been.

Nurse: oh good, you're here. Your patient in room 355 really wants to see you.
Me: is everything ok with her?
Nurse: She keeps on saying that she wants to see you.
Me: OK, I'll go see her now.

***

Me: So what's up?
Patient: Oh, thank G-d. I was so worried about you. You always come in at a quarter to six and you didn't this morning. i was scared something happened to you. Is everything all right?
Me: Yup, just running a little late this morning.
Patient: I'm just glad you're OK. I was really scared when you didn't come in this morning. i thought you might have been on vacation today, but since you didn't mention that yesterday, I thought maybe you got into a car accident on the way over here. Or something happened to you last night.
Me: No, everything's fine. I just overslept a little.

That's actually kind of sweet. Admittedly a little strange, but definitely kind of sweet. Certainly a welcome change from my patients who yell at me for waking them up too early.

3 comments:

  1. 6:30!
    Do you work in a military hospital doctor fizzy? That is way to early. I feel the urge to sleep just reading this ;)
    One of my rotation was in a military hospital and I had to go really early but we finished super early as well.

    That is so sweet of your patient by the way.

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  2. After reading this story, my first thought was: here this patient is, sick in the
    hospital, and she's concerned not about herself but about the welfare of her
    physician.
    Extra dessert for patient in Room 355 ! - Paul

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  3. Dr. Orthochick,

    My hats off to you for getting in so early every day. I realized pretty early on in my surgical rotation that the specialty was not for me, chiefly because of the long hours and how much I hated waking patient up before 6 to ask if they had a bowel movement or flatus.

    I suppose after a while it becomes second nature, but it is still a brutal training and life.

    - Doctor "Lazy" IM

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