Datebook
Getting Oriented: From watching hospital television
dramas, you probably have an idea what it's like to be a resident
in a teaching hospital. But what about the first morning on the
job? More than 250 new residents at Johns Hopkins Hospital
gath-ered in Turner Auditorium June 28 for crash-course
introductions to some of the people and services they'll be
paging the most.
10:20 a.m. Medication Orders:
"If I don't see the decimal," said pharmacist Robert Feroli,
"there's a problem."
10:30 a.m. Sedation Policy
Anesthesiologist James Schauble: "It's not really possible to
cover all of sedation in five minutes." Or even seven.
10:37 a.m. Pain Management
Pain is the fifth vital sign, according to Rita Mastroianni.
10:42 a.m. Pastoral Care and Services
"We look at the marriage of spirituality and science," said the
senior staff chaplain. Twenty-four hours a day.
10:50 a.m. Ethics Committee
"Get out your Palm Pilots. Write in Ethics. The ethics pager is
3-6104," instructed Michael Williams. "I would love to help solve
your problem early, rather than get called in as a member of a
SWAT team to clean up a mess."
10:54 a.m. Security
"What you see in the news is true," said Ruth LaFontaine. Her
advice: Always use the shuttles from satellite parking lots and
24-hour security escorts.
11 a.m. Pathology Services and Transfusion Medicine
If you need an autopsy, who you gonna call? The Autopsy Service--
proud performers of more than 50,000 post-mortem exams since
1889.
11:06 a.m. Organ Donation
The three most important features of "organ procurement,"
according to the Rev. Rosemary Lillis: timing, setting, and
teamwork.
11:14 a.m. Medical Staff Registrar
Like Santa Claus, this office--which verifies each physician's
credentials--should know everything you do.
11:17 a.m. Health, Safety, and Environment
Two main tips: Call 5-STIX if exposed to blood-borne pathogens.
Never use a fire extinguisher.
11:30 a.m. Lunch
Overheard in the buffet line: "It's our last free meal."
--EC