Keeping time

I was sitting at the PC when the resident very politely asked me "May I leave now Sir?" Instinctively, I looked up at the wall clock - it was 4.20 PM - time, in fact, well beyond time (4 PM) - for radiology residents to scoot from the No. 10 reporting room.It is interesting how the No. 10 reporting is always covered by residents from 8AM-4PM. You will rarely not find at least one resident there; even if it means someone else from somewhere else to cover for lunch times and "break-times". Some would like to think that this is simply because, the residents are scared of me as I spend most of my time in this computer den; but, I would rather think that they are being considerate to their Chief - poor old man; why let patients come in the way of his work.Come in the way of my work? Yes. … why these residents won't even let me report plain films in No. 10. "Sir, please do not bother"; we will take care of the reporting, Sir" is their usual refrain.. I am sure I must be making too many mistakes or missing too many findings on plain films ...which is what they are probably worried about…To say they scoot on time - is being unfair to my residents. By far and a long way, most work beyond their duty hours and often beyond the call of their duty. Like most residents elsewhere, they too end up doing odds and ends from mehters' chores to the bosses PowerPoint presentations. So, far from being a Hitler as I was back in the eighties and nineties, I am now more considerate and accommodating to the odd - take it easy attitude of residents.Faculty is another ball game all together. Most have goals and ambitions for themselves and the department and are mature and understand that they are supposed to be more responsible and set examples - not that it happens all the time. So ever so often, I look them up, - telling them it is important to maintain time ; patients are waiting, other consultants may be looking for them and that not being available is inconveniencing everybody around.. After all, if there is one place that people call all day long - that is radiology and we better be there when we are wanted or else we will not be wanted and you will have only yourself to blame. Besides everything else, you are cheating, if you don't keep time.Such lecturing works for a while and then again it is back to square one. I realize, we can not and should not police faculty or for that matter residents; they are too old and intelligent not to know their responsibilities .. and…. I keep hoping - surely some day they will keep time… won't they?

June 2006