Encourage Dialogue
Many years ago, a worried pediatrician followed me around one evening. I remember this vividly for two reasons. One, he looked a little like
Tom Baker in
Doctor Who minus a long scarf and bag of
Jelly Babies. Two, working alone had never been so stressful. Juggling urine antigen screens, cerebrospinal fluid, and everything a busy ED lobbed at me was hard enough. The last thing I wanted was a shadow.
My laboratory manager said this: "Next time, tell that doctor to get out of the lab and let you finish your work."
I understand the need to avoid distractions that cause errors. But I wonder how this advice would have worked. "Doc, I need to finish my work. Please leave." This sounds polite, but it's "Get out" all the same. A physician worried about his patient won't take kindly to such rudeness. I wouldn't blame him.
As part of a healthcare team treating patients, the laboratory has a responsibility to find out what a physician wants. The smart solution is to open a dialogue. "What do you need first? How can I help you?" This invites the physician to share information that helps both of you work together to help the patient. And if the physician just wants to watch, so be it--maybe he can add information that will help you. But you have to ask. You have to engage yourself.
We not only have a responsibility to open a dialogue, the physician expects it. Yet too often, abruptness or perceptions interfere with what needs to be an open, professional relationship. And we've all been there--nothing puts you quite on edge. But greenness, gender or status are immaterial to a patient deserving the best care possible. There are any number of ways to open a dialogue.
"Get out" isn't one of them.