Read Online Fertility: A Novel by Denise Gelberg - Free Book Online
Authors: Denise Gelberg
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are, Dr. Smith.”
“It’s obvious how it occurred. Someone from the pharmacy screwed up. They sent heparin with a thousand times the potency I ordered.”
“Yes, that seems clear, but I’m investigating the circumstances that allowed that error to be made, particularly given the fact that the BCMA system is in operation.”
“Yeah, so much for that. We’ve been hearing for months how the BCMA was going to make medication errors a thing of the past. Guess that particular emperor has no clothes.”
Sarah was eager to hear more. “How so, Dr. Smith?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Even with all the scanners in place, the infant nearly bled to death from an enormous overdose.”
“Do you have an idea as to how that could have happened?” Sarah was particularly interested to hear his answer since he had played no role in the overdose and had no reason to try to cover his rear.
The pediatric fellow sat slumped in the armchair, his head resting on his hand. He was either very relaxed or dead tired. “How did it happen?” he asked incredulously, suddenly coming to life. “Someone wasn’t doing their job, that’s how. The manufacturer clearly labeled the vial “10,000 units.” Hard to miss all those zeroes — even without a scanner,” he said impatiently.
“Apparently the labels for the 10- and the 10,000-unit vials of heparin are nearly an identical shade of blue. It appears that contributed to the mix-up,” Sarah explained.
“What, people can’t read now? We go by colors? What is this, preschool?”
Sarah was impressed by his forceful condemnation of those responsible for the overdose. She was still looking for the part of him that engendered fondness in the people who worked with him. Perhaps his high expectations for patient care were part of his appeal. And, truth be told, he’d likely clean up nicely. Little doubt about that, Sarah thought, before getting back to the business at hand.
“I can understand your intolerance for this type of error. But it appears there were circumstances that contributed to people making the mistake. One factor appears to be that the hospital was short staffed because of the flu going around. The newness of the BCMA may also be a factor.”
“Look, I have some sympathy for the nurses — and all the floor staff, for that matter. People are being asked to work back-to-back shifts and they’re exhausted. And it’s not just because of the flu that’s going around. Understaffing is a constant problem here. As far as bedside care goes, the administrators are trying to run this place on the cheap. As for the computer system, which I’m sure cost the hospital a bundle, trouble-free it’s not. It rejected scripts from me without reason several times this past week. I know a lot of people have found it to be a thorn in their side.
“That being said,” Dr. Smith continued, “do you have any idea what happened to that little baby yesterday? It was disastrous. There’s no other word for it. I spent an entire night trying to undo the horror caused by simple carelessness. That baby did not have to suffer this trauma. She shouldn’t have suffered this trauma. So if you think I have, what did you call it, an ‘intolerance’ for the error, you’re goddamned straight I do. I am intolerant of an error that could inflict so much harm on a helpless infant.”
Doris coughed. Maybe she had a tickle in her throat, but Sarah took it as a signal that she was impressed by the rumpled doctor’s passionate advocacy for his patient. Sarah couldn’t take her eyes off him. His unvarnished appraisal was both helpful and refreshing. Maybe that’s what people enjoyed about him. There was no bull from Dr. Smith.
“I appreciate your assessment of the conditions that may have contributed to the baby being harmed. I am certain this will be cold comfort, but many of the people with whom I’ve spoken today are stricken with a deep sense of remorse. No one wanted this terrible error to
“It’s obvious how it occurred. Someone from the pharmacy screwed up. They sent heparin with a thousand times the potency I ordered.”
“Yes, that seems clear, but I’m investigating the circumstances that allowed that error to be made, particularly given the fact that the BCMA system is in operation.”
“Yeah, so much for that. We’ve been hearing for months how the BCMA was going to make medication errors a thing of the past. Guess that particular emperor has no clothes.”
Sarah was eager to hear more. “How so, Dr. Smith?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Even with all the scanners in place, the infant nearly bled to death from an enormous overdose.”
“Do you have an idea as to how that could have happened?” Sarah was particularly interested to hear his answer since he had played no role in the overdose and had no reason to try to cover his rear.
The pediatric fellow sat slumped in the armchair, his head resting on his hand. He was either very relaxed or dead tired. “How did it happen?” he asked incredulously, suddenly coming to life. “Someone wasn’t doing their job, that’s how. The manufacturer clearly labeled the vial “10,000 units.” Hard to miss all those zeroes — even without a scanner,” he said impatiently.
“Apparently the labels for the 10- and the 10,000-unit vials of heparin are nearly an identical shade of blue. It appears that contributed to the mix-up,” Sarah explained.
“What, people can’t read now? We go by colors? What is this, preschool?”
Sarah was impressed by his forceful condemnation of those responsible for the overdose. She was still looking for the part of him that engendered fondness in the people who worked with him. Perhaps his high expectations for patient care were part of his appeal. And, truth be told, he’d likely clean up nicely. Little doubt about that, Sarah thought, before getting back to the business at hand.
“I can understand your intolerance for this type of error. But it appears there were circumstances that contributed to people making the mistake. One factor appears to be that the hospital was short staffed because of the flu going around. The newness of the BCMA may also be a factor.”
“Look, I have some sympathy for the nurses — and all the floor staff, for that matter. People are being asked to work back-to-back shifts and they’re exhausted. And it’s not just because of the flu that’s going around. Understaffing is a constant problem here. As far as bedside care goes, the administrators are trying to run this place on the cheap. As for the computer system, which I’m sure cost the hospital a bundle, trouble-free it’s not. It rejected scripts from me without reason several times this past week. I know a lot of people have found it to be a thorn in their side.
“That being said,” Dr. Smith continued, “do you have any idea what happened to that little baby yesterday? It was disastrous. There’s no other word for it. I spent an entire night trying to undo the horror caused by simple carelessness. That baby did not have to suffer this trauma. She shouldn’t have suffered this trauma. So if you think I have, what did you call it, an ‘intolerance’ for the error, you’re goddamned straight I do. I am intolerant of an error that could inflict so much harm on a helpless infant.”
Doris coughed. Maybe she had a tickle in her throat, but Sarah took it as a signal that she was impressed by the rumpled doctor’s passionate advocacy for his patient. Sarah couldn’t take her eyes off him. His unvarnished appraisal was both helpful and refreshing. Maybe that’s what people enjoyed about him. There was no bull from Dr. Smith.
“I appreciate your assessment of the conditions that may have contributed to the baby being harmed. I am certain this will be cold comfort, but many of the people with whom I’ve spoken today are stricken with a deep sense of remorse. No one wanted this terrible error to
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