Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Talking sweet potatoes
Today I got a new patient who has a long history of drug abuse, 44 yo man, homeless, family has refused to take him in anymore...he travels all over from hospital to hospital whenever he runs out of money or drugs. My job was to discharge him after his 5th day in the hospital for no reason. I told him we would give him all the heart medicine he would need until he could get established with Medi-Cal. But after we were done, he asked if I would prescribe some Vidodin and I declined. After I left, he called administration and complained that he smelled alcohol on my breath and I was acting strangely! What a gas!
My buddy who is the head of Physician Human Resources had to track me down and, as a formality, check it out. He said this was really awkward, especially since he's been in his admin position for only a year, compared to my 18! We got a good laugh out of it and I said maybe I could return the favor and check him out someday! This was a first in my nearly 30 yrs of practice. My last alcohol was 9 days ago on the way to Wisconsin. I'm very good friends with all the nursing staff on one north and they said they will definitely confirm that I do act strangely most of the time...as one sweet potato said the the other, " I yam what I yam."
My buddy who is the head of Physician Human Resources had to track me down and, as a formality, check it out. He said this was really awkward, especially since he's been in his admin position for only a year, compared to my 18! We got a good laugh out of it and I said maybe I could return the favor and check him out someday! This was a first in my nearly 30 yrs of practice. My last alcohol was 9 days ago on the way to Wisconsin. I'm very good friends with all the nursing staff on one north and they said they will definitely confirm that I do act strangely most of the time...as one sweet potato said the the other, " I yam what I yam."
# posted by dennis @ 9:50 PM 
