Saturday, January 19, 2019
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Seen in a chart
But you know what? Crap like this is no longer the exception. It's the rule. I'd say at least 50%-60% of charts I read from hospitals and practices that use computer charting systems (which is pretty much all of them) have errors of this kind.
And these are what the world is pushing us to use more and more of.
I'm not saying computer chart systems are bad things. They have a lot of advantages. But they also encourage the slacker inherent in all of us. It's easier and faster to check boxes, cut & paste, and use templates than it is to actually type out what's correct. Especially if you skip the critical step of proofreading what you've just done. Most do.
The majority of these errors are just amusing. This one is just stupid, but likely won't cause a serious patient outcome.
But if it can make an error about smoking, it can also make them about your allergies. Your current medications. What conditions you have. Your past surgeries.
And one "minor" error in any of those could lead to a disaster in the right setting.
Monday, January 14, 2019
Cole slaw
I'm in the emergency room, talking to a patient's wife:
Dr. Grumpy: "When did this all start?"
Mrs. Concern: "Last night. He fell down in the bathroom, and said he couldn't move that side."
Dr. Grumpy: "Then what happened?"
Mrs. Concern: "I figured he was just angry at me, and trying to get attention. We'd had this big argument over cole slaw at lunch, because..."
Dr. Grumpy: "Okay, but last night..."
Mrs. Concern: "Oh yeah, anyway, so I watched some TV in bed - there's that new detective show I like - until I fell asleep. When I woke up this morning he was still on the bathroom floor, and boy, was he angry. So that was when I called paramedics."
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Friday, December 21, 2018
10 years
December 21, 2008, was, apparently, a slow news day. In looking backwards I really can't find any articles of note from the major news outlets on that date's happenings.
But to me it was a big day as I published my first post here.
A lot of factors had led up to it. For years I'd been collecting stories hoping to write a book... someday. But life, work, and kids get in the way of those things. At some point I realized the book was never going to happen.
Then, in 2008, a change in my practice led to me having a bit more free time. So, instead of a book, I decided to share my stories on this blog.
And here I am, 10 years out. My numbers have gone up and down, but I still seem to have a following. For that I'm grateful. If it wasn't for you guys there wouldn't be a reason to do this. My posts have dropped from twice daily to 2-3/week, but I'm still cranking them out and hopefully will continue to do so.
I appreciate those of you who have stayed with me and written comments. I've only been mentioned once in the general media, but knowing you guys are reading makes it worthwhile to keep doing this.
At 10 years out I want to thank my wife, for putting up with me, and my kids, who've grown from small rug rats to young adults heading for college since I started this.
I also want to thank Mary and Annie, also for putting up with me and supplying me with stories to share. Without you guys I wouldn't have a real job.
My patients deserve a big round of applause. Without them I wouldn't have this blog. Most of them are good folks, and I genuinely appreciate them making my job a fulfilling one. Medical blogs may give you the impression that most patients are insane, or stupid, or both, but that's far from true. The vast majority are good people, but stories of normal patient encounters are boring and aren't why you come here.
Lastly, I want to thank all of you guys for sticking with me over time, sharing your thoughts, and making this fun.
A special thank you is deserved by those I've met through the blog and who I'm now proud to call friends. We may never meet in person, but knowing you're out there is good enough for me.
Thank you all, have a great holiday, and I'll be back on January 14, 2019.
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