Arthur M. Lauretano, MD, MS, FACS
Author of Do The Right Thing
The overhead paging system implored, “Any available surgeon to ICU STAT” while my ASCOM phone rang, with my team leader nurse telling me, “They need you right away in the ICU.” As far away from the ICU as one could be, I ran across the hospital, trying to move as quickly as I could in OR clogs and on a torn right knee meniscus.
Two days ago, I was on call. At 2:00AM, I received a page for an emergency. A child was bleeding abnormally about five days after someone in our call group had performed a tonsillectomy, and that child needed to be rushed back to the operating room. I had to be there as soon as possible.