The day begins at 6 a.m. I am rounding on my nine patients, quickly examining them and providing a brief update about the plan. Like the other harried residents, I am speeding from one room to the next, trying to get everything done on time. And then, inevitably my beeper goes off — “Patient in emergency room being admitted, please call for signout.” I stop in my tracks. I can literally feel the time ticking away, and there is so much to do. But as I clear my mind to hear about the new admission, I have to remind myself of a lesson I learned as a medical student — the importance of slowing down.
Ms. A was a petite woman in her early 40s with beautiful dark hair and a kind smile. She appeared rather calm despite her current woes — double vision and difficulty opening her left eye. I met her when she was admitted to the neurology service. Earlier that day, in the emergency room, a quick physical exam revealed that she had a drooping eyelid, raising concern that her third cranial nerve was injured. A CT scan was performed, which suggested that Ms. A could have a meningioma, a brain tumor compressing the nerve. The patient was admitted to our service for steroid treatment, which is used to prevent further nerve damage. When I met Ms. A, I did not know any of the events in the ER, including the results of her scan. My resident had advised me not to read her chart prior to taking a history and examining her.
Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
