Call Fatigue
There comes a point in time whereby I start to feel that night calls are just too tiring and that life would be so much better without calls.
Yes, I know I used to say that night calls were the best learning experience ever. But sometimes we just get so tired, we don't learn anything.
And call fatigue can be dangerous, especially for the patient.
- Imagine being super tired, with 5 new cases waiting to be clerked, 20 plugs and bloods to take and only 1 hour left before you have to start your ward round.
- The nurse shoves an ECG in front of you and says, "Dr, note ECG." You take a glance at it, especially the ECG interpretation and you sign because it's doesn't say normal sinus rhythm.
- You see some ST changes but can't quite make out the significance with your tired blurring eyes.
- Your mind screams, "Sign the ECG and get out!" and you do so accordingly.
- You just missed an AMI.
In my opinion, calls should be limited to maximum once a week. And we should be on call only with the wards we can working in the day. This ensures that the patient receives continuity of care. But the limitation of manpower prevents us from doing that.
And rostering me for 7 calls next month is just plain torture. I'm complaining to the SPCH (society of prevention of cruelty to HOs).
Wei Qiang converses @ 22:00
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