With modern technology, when the pager goes off so does the cell phone. I didn't know cell phones could make that high pitched annoying beeping sound- but yes, indeed they can. The benefit of pagers to Dr.H is clear- a quick and necessary form of communication meant to help patients and medical staff. But for the following 2 reasons, pagers are my enemy:
1) It wakes me up in the middle of the night- many times more than once- for NO good reason. To explain- Dr.H may order a CT scan at 4pm...at 10pm the scan happens...at 11pm the radiology resident looks at who ordered the scan and pages Dr.H. The thing is, when Dr.H leaves work he signs out to another general surgery resident- they take care of the same patients. I'm guessing it wouldn't take long for the staff to glance at the schedule to see who is currently at the hospital. I can't tell you how many times Dr.H calls back to staff and says, "oh can you call Dr.Blank-he/she is the one on call". Apparently, doctors and nurses are smart enough to save lives- but updating and checking schedules- simple organization- forget it.
2) I have to share my husband with it for the next several DECADES. You may wonder why we're escaping to the woods of the appalachian trail in June- pagers and cell phones don't work out there- HAHA! Family may be Dr.H's #1 priority, but if he's on call and the pager goes off- doesn't matter if its a birthday party, school play, crying baby, or holiday family gathering- he's off to care for patients. Talk about a lesson in humility and understanding. I may have to understand, but I don't have to like that **** pager.
1) It wakes me up in the middle of the night- many times more than once- for NO good reason. To explain- Dr.H may order a CT scan at 4pm...at 10pm the scan happens...at 11pm the radiology resident looks at who ordered the scan and pages Dr.H. The thing is, when Dr.H leaves work he signs out to another general surgery resident- they take care of the same patients. I'm guessing it wouldn't take long for the staff to glance at the schedule to see who is currently at the hospital. I can't tell you how many times Dr.H calls back to staff and says, "oh can you call Dr.Blank-he/she is the one on call". Apparently, doctors and nurses are smart enough to save lives- but updating and checking schedules- simple organization- forget it.
2) I have to share my husband with it for the next several DECADES. You may wonder why we're escaping to the woods of the appalachian trail in June- pagers and cell phones don't work out there- HAHA! Family may be Dr.H's #1 priority, but if he's on call and the pager goes off- doesn't matter if its a birthday party, school play, crying baby, or holiday family gathering- he's off to care for patients. Talk about a lesson in humility and understanding. I may have to understand, but I don't have to like that **** pager.