An inch is as good as a mile
Posted on Sunday 4th May 2008
On one hand it is a rewarding role as I get the opportunity to flex my decision-making skills with the safety net of consultant backup. Twice during my “on” week I take on the role of duty intensivist. This involves deciding who gets in and out of ICU and making executive decisions on management. It also means being on-call from home for consultations.
There is, however, a downside to being in a (slightly) elevated role. The regular registrars are heavily involved on a shop-floor basis with their patients. They perform all the technical procedures and examinations. Herein lies the rub. I am expected to maintain a supervisory role as not only is it the junior registrars responsiblity to do these tasks, but they also want to maintain their skills.
It means I am rapidly becoming rusty and out-of-practise. Hopefully taking on the retrieval job should help as the medical officer often has to stabilise patients in the field. Best of both worlds …. I hope.
