Intern Bootcamp: Mastering Hospital Consults and Call Shifts

Giving Effective Consults

• 💡 Clarity and conciseness are key when requesting a consult. Develop a script that includes your team, the patient's condition, and the reason for the consult.
• 🎯 When requesting a procedure, be prepared with essential information: NPO status, ability to consent, blood thinner status, and the urgency of the procedure.
• 🔑 A clear, brief question at the start helps consultants understand the focus, followed by a concise history and the patient's MRN.

Receiving Consults Like a Pro

• 🧠 Clarify the consultant's request to ensure you understand if they are asking for diagnosis, management, or a procedure.
• ⚠️ Never discuss potential surgery with a patient before the primary team has approached them about it.
• 🔍 Gather patient information efficiently from the consultant, EHR, and the patient directly. Note the callback number for prompt communication.
• 📝 Develop a system to stay organized and track your to-do list for consults, ensuring no patient is missed.

Managing Long Call Shifts

• 🚀 Pack a survival bag with essentials like toiletries and a change of clothes to help you feel human during long shifts.
• 😴 Strategic napping is crucial; consider doing PM rounds to address non-urgent issues beforehand and set alarms to ensure you wake up on time.
• 🤝 Develop rapport with floor nurses by doing routine rounds; this can help manage non-urgent pages and provide a better understanding of patient status.
• ⏰ Set alarms not only for waking up but also to check pages at regular intervals, ensuring you don't miss critical updates.

Consult Communication and Courtesy

• 💬 Verify communication channels for consults, as some hospitals rely on direct pages rather than electronic orders.
• ✅ Always confirm that the consulting team has received and acknowledged your request.
• 🤝 Clarify whether the consulting team or your team will place orders to avoid potential conflicts and ensure smooth patient care.

The Value of Consults and Call Shifts

• 🌱 Consults are opportunities to learn about patients and collaborate with hospital experts.
• 🌟 Even seemingly "unnecessary" consults can foster good relationships and reassure patients and colleagues.
• 🏆 Mastering consults and call shifts is vital for intern growth, autonomy, and becoming an independent member of the healthcare team.