Signout is hospital slang for the transfer of information between patient care teams. It is also the name of this blog, which represents one of the less dysfunctional ways in which Dr. Signout copes with her participation in a U.S. medical residency program.
Yesterday, when I was on overnight call, something truly astounding happened: the hospital ran out of coffee. By which I mean, there was no coffee available all day, nor all night.
To quote one of my favorite ScienceBloggers, what the fucking fuck?! Seriously, what kind of hospital runs out of coffee? Doesn't that violate some kind of accreditation requirement?*
I had intended to write something thoughtful on my arrival home, but I'm too inadequately caffeinated to put a coherent thought together. Instead, you get the following link, which certainly benefits humanity far more than my usual jibberjabber, anyway.
You all know how I feel about DonorsChoose--it's a terrific way for private donors to support public education in tangible ways. Plus, it could get you on TV, and isn't that the lifetime goal of 90% of the western world's population? Anyway, if you click here--or on the "Big Think" banner to your right--you'll be directed to a site where you can support DonorsChoose for free! That's right--all you have to do is vote for one of their profiled scientists, and Pfizer coughs up a buck toward funding projects in public education. You'll also get the chance to view and donate to projects privately, and I can tell you from my own experience that this is an incredibly gratifying direction in which to throw some change.
I'll be back with the usual word salad as soon as I've gotten a couple days' sleep. Now, I sup on Froot Loops!
*And don't start in on me about those Seventh-Day Adventist places that have nothing caffeinated at all in the hospital: I think they're an invention of the graduate medical education people intended to scare us into being less dissatisfied with our squalor.
Comments
what the fucking fuck?!
Oh, my goodness! What science blogger would ever speak so caustically?
Good on ya for the shoutout for DonorsChoose. Now, go get some sleep.
Posted by: Abel Pharmboy | August 16, 2008 1:27 PM
Wow! I didn't think hospitals, of all places, could legally do that.
I second the commenters that said they really like your writing. Please find time to continue to tell us your story.
Posted by: LindaCO | August 16, 2008 1:40 PM
NOOOOOO!!!!!!!
The free coffee we get in the clinic is horrible, so as a nice thing, i bring good coffee beans and brew one or two pots a day of the good stuff.
But this hospital cannot run out of coffee. It's the busiest hospital in the country and there is coffee in a few spots on every floor.
Posted by: PalMD | August 16, 2008 1:55 PM
What kind of foul-mouthed douchewacker would ever say something like "What the fucking fuck!?"?
Posted by: PhysioProf | August 16, 2008 2:32 PM
Is it healthy to force yourself to stay awake by using caffeine? Is your judgment going to be sound? Physician, heal thyself.
Posted by: ABC | August 16, 2008 3:23 PM
All the verbal abuse you sometime write about here... its nothing compared to the scale of this treachery!
Posted by: Mike Barnkob | August 17, 2008 8:31 AM
Oh, Signout's judgment is sound. It's just *enhanced* by the java, that's all.
Signout, I want to call you but I'm afraid of waking you up!
Posted by: Heather | August 18, 2008 2:50 PM
Wow - it is so great to see you blogging regularly again! Your acerbic wit perked me up as if it were caffeine. Too bad it doesn't do the same for you. . .
Posted by: Jessica Palmer | August 18, 2008 6:39 PM
Yeah, that's right--enHANCED.
And don't worry about waking me up--you can't wake me when I never sleep! Ha ha!
Seriously, call me.
And as ever, thanks to all for the empathy.
Posted by: Signout | August 18, 2008 10:46 PM
"This is why people hate hospitals" -- Lucille Bluth, Arrested Development
Posted by: El Christador | August 19, 2008 2:27 AM