The Ripple Efect
Bah Humbug
by Kris Barnsfather, MD
Bah Humbug! Oh, wait, that was December. Happy New Year! That’ s definitely better. I’ m a little late in my reset. Every October I have to encourage myself to not be the“ Fourth Quarter Scrooge” that I proclaim myself to be. I expressed this after a young peer and I were talking today. We had not seen each other in several weeks and we were catching up. It was the usual,“ How are you” and“ How was your holiday” and“ Were you on call?” As an OB we expect to do our fair share of holiday call, but it doesn’ t mean we like them. So, a little commiserating usually ensues. This peer was describing how they had to work two 24- hour call shifts three days apart over the Christmas week. And, while they were not on for the actual holiday, the days surrounding it were brutal and they found themselves not able to completely enjoy their Christmas Day due to the baggage and fatigue that comes with this job.
We continued by relating to each other that people are different in the holiday months. They are more demanding, generally unhappy and difficult. Patients want their care by the end of the year, projects want to be finished and people want to be off work( but always expecting their doc to be the constant foundation that they are all year long). You know the typical patient can take time off and not affect us docs, but the doctor has to keep seeing patients. Better yet, you get to see your and your partner’ s patients for whatever days they were able to get away( Thank you to my partners for letting me get to Texas for Christmas week and seeing my peeps for me! But hey, you can still feel bad for me. I had 25 people at my house on Thanksgiving while I worked a 48-hour shift).
We are rarely afforded the opportunity for“ special occasion” shifts that those around us are afforded during the holidays. Office party? Sure, cancel patients but we still have to take the phone calls that are no longer going to the office staff. Take a day off? Sure, have someone else do the minimum work you would have done if you were here while
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