Hope y'all have a better New Year's Eve than me

[moonpod]

Happy New Years Y'all.

course, me instead of popping champagne, I'm in the hospital taking care of some poor schmuk with an open tibia fracture. Why? Because there's some little podunk hospital around here that can't find an orthopedic surgeon there to take care of the dude. They "don't have anybody covering orthopedics tonight". Surprise, surprise, noone covering on New Years Eve? You don't say? So they are transfering the patient. This by the way is known as an EMTALA violation, because frankly transfering an open fracture is malpractice. When a patient shows up in an ER and needs emergency care, but it can't be rendered because of physician unavailability (trust me there are plenty of orthopedic surgeons at that hospital), that's a no, no. I believe 3 EMTALA violations and you can't treat medicare patients anymore (that puts a crimp into most hospitals and physicians practices)

So...I'm venting a little bit...and I'm thinking to myself, there's got to be a better way. You know....I'm busy enough without this crap. I already operated twice today.

[Heinz]

sorry to hear that Chuck, but happy new year to you too,

[nbd13]

Dang Chuck sorry to hear.

doesnt sound right to me and i think i would be pissed just like you are.

how long did the surgery take?

Nick

[invincible569]

Wow Chuck! I would send the other hospital a nasty letter! Or turn them in! It affects your work and the hospital you work for.

The positive side to this is that you helped someone out. Maybe you are the better surgeon and therefore made his life the best it could be.

[skippyreef]

Seems ignorant on the hospital administration part not to have an ortho on call or on staff just because its a holiday.

Well I am sure the guy is in good hands though!!! Get out your Nuts and Bolts and put Humpty back together again!!

Happy New Year!!

[WayneL333]

Sorry to hear your New Year's Eve was so terrible. I guess you had bone to pick with that hospital :hahano:

You've got to keep your humorous about those situations.

ok. I'm done.

[moonpod]

Well it's easy enough to chuckle about now. It's one of those "in the moment" things.

[OUinLA]

That is definately a bummer, but mine wasn't great either. We found out, right at midnight at the emergency room that our 10 month old has pneumonia. He'll be fine, but it definately wasn't a time to celebrate.

[moonpod]

Hm, that little dude is keeping your medical bills high all by himself huh. Hope all is well.

[OUinLA]

Hm, that little dude is keeping your medical bills high all by himself huh. Hope all is well.

No, he's not keeping them high but all the doctors bills are

[Orion76]

Sorry Chuck and Mad, that's not a fun way to spend your new years.

Sounds like your patient had a bad new years too, being taken to a hospital with an open fracture and then getting moved to another hospital doesn't sound like fun. Isn't new years the busiest night of the year in the ER? Not very professional not to have an orthopedic surgeon on stand by on "binge drinking eve".

On the upside you guys didn't experience the hangover I had... January 2nd and I'm still a broken man...

[nyfireman3097]

sorry to hear about your son Mad, hope he feels better soon. Sorry about ur NYE also Chuck

[Armando]

sorry to hear about it! my new Years was also not so great, had a "vet emergency" with my dog. he's recovering now and should be fine. The difference is that while you were making money ( I assume) I was paying the vet $$ bills!