[Whoops]

ok - so tomorrow I start a role in the largest Cancer dept in NZ, working on a project to help them reduce delays/improve outcomes.

Any of you monkeys with professional medical experience have any advice on what to expect in terms of the way the individuals interact and behave? i.e. what motivates/demotivates/annoys/excites them?

I'm not medically trained (and don't need to be for this role), but am well used to working with topic-specific experts in other fields who have strong industry-specific cultures.

Maslow still applies, and people are people - but I'm curious about profession-related drivers that might be unique in the hospital setting.

Cheers

 

[Toshi]

I'm not sure that anything useful applies generally across all of medicine, or even the research of cancer. These people could be heme-onc types, oncological surgeons (or even the rare beast of the oncologic orthopedic surgeon), pathologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists... The gamut is wide and so are the personality types of those within each niche.

 

[Whoops]

I'm not sure that anything useful applies generally across all of medicine, or even the research of cancer. These people could be heme-onc types, oncological surgeons (or even the rare beast of the oncologic orthopedic surgeon), pathologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists... The gamut is wide and so are the personality types of those within each niche.

Yes - you're right. I have a feeling I'm going to run into more challenges in engaging the scheduling people (and possibly rad techs) than I will with the heme-oncs or surgeons.

Most of the issues (based on preliminary conversations) appear to be related to under-use of capital equipment, and left hand/right hand overlaps with scheduling of patients. One example was of a patient who had 14 appointments for what looks to have been only 4 'value add' activities.

Outside of this work, I've a long standing friend who is an oncologist. Super dry, very reserved and careful in choice of words (even more-so than other friends who are aneathesiologists or orthopods). Would you say for that specialisation this is common? My guess is yes.

 

[Toshi]

The only oncologist I know well is my sister, and, well, she's my sister. She doesn't mince words...

 

[Serial Midget]

I have a friend recently diagnosed with liver cancer - his biggest complaint is lack of communication / records accessibility between the 6 different clinics / hospitals he's been in and out of over the last month. So... it seems that communication is not a required skill for medical professionals.

Have fun!

 

[Toshi]

Communication is highly stressed in our training, actually. Unfortunately, the vagaries of different hospital systems mean that records accessibility is indeed a huge problem these days. Nothing just ports over as it should in an ideal world.

 

[Serial Midget]

Communication is highly stressed in our training, actually. Unfortunately, the vagaries of different hospital systems mean that records accessibility is indeed a huge problem these days. Nothing just ports over as it should in an ideal world.

Patients should be provided copies of test results and health records - the guy I know has had 3 biopsies by 3 doctors in 1 week... 2 of the doctors where where in the same clinic and the biopsies where 1 day apart... to those outside the medical profession it just doesn't make sense.

That said - I couldn't be a doctor so I won't second guess those who are. Except for YOU Toshi, you really should be a better driver.

 

[Whoops]

Patients should be provided copies of test results and health records - the guy I know has had 3 biopsies by 3 doctors in 1 week... 2 of the doctors where where in the same clinic and the biopsies where 1 day apart... to those outside the medical profession it just doesn't make sense.

That said - I couldn't be a doctor so I won't second guess those who are. Except for YOU Toshi, you really should be a better driver.

Not sure about the driving quip, but thanks for the other comments.

 

[Toshi]

He's still harping on how I wrecked my WRX back in, what was it, 2006?

 

[Da Peach]

With all due respect to any doctors on the site...regardless of their driving ability....

Get to know the nurses. Befriend them. That will go a long way in knowing what patients need to feel comfortable/cared for.

My wife's a nurse in a pediatric ICU. She's helpful to all, but especially so to those she likes.

 

[Whoops]

First day done.

Initial impression is that (in terms of culture) it's part way between a large public research lab and a university... with the added complication of patients.

Many different fiefdoms, with plenty of ego sloshing around.

Fun!

 

[Whoops]

First week (+a bit) done. For any that are interested, observations are;

- Cancer is horrendous.
- Smoking does indeed kill.
- Hospitals run on caffeine.
- Hospitals are chaotic places that somehow function well most of the time.
- Massive accretion of semi-implemented systems, protocols, and processes on top of entire ecosystems of empire building egotists and convoluted politics makes for a fun work environment.
- Clinical staff (generally) have jedi-skills. Nurses especially.


So far I'm loving it, and hoping I can make a difference. I've a monumental knowledge deficit (subject related) of course.... but using my 733t common sense and wide background/bizzare way of considering challenges have been able to contribute already... here's hoping it can continue...