Hello friends,
For those of you who dont know me that well (that's most of you reading this !) - I am a surgeon.
Having worked for 6 years in Calcutta (excluding my days in training) , I am currently in 'firangi land'.
I wanted to get my thoughts and observations out in the open-hence this idea of writing a blog.
I would like to write on - healthcare and its different facets as I see it.
I am confident on ruffling quite a few feathers with the topics on which I write
I intend to write frquently- depending on my schedule.
Your feedback and observations will be much appreciated.
For those of you who dont know me that well (that's most of you reading this !) - I am a surgeon.
Having worked for 6 years in Calcutta (excluding my days in training) , I am currently in 'firangi land'.
I wanted to get my thoughts and observations out in the open-hence this idea of writing a blog.
I would like to write on - healthcare and its different facets as I see it.
I am confident on ruffling quite a few feathers with the topics on which I write
I intend to write frquently- depending on my schedule.
Your feedback and observations will be much appreciated.
Attendance
This is one thorny issue with doctors working in medical colleges(Medical Education Service) in 'desi'land.
Mention this to any doctor/teacher and you are sure to let open a can of wriggly squeashy worms.
I am keeping doctors working in Health Service out of this discussion as they have to work in extreme and grossly different circumstances.
Coming back to the topic- ATTENDANCE, hospital attendance to be more specific.
The rules tell that the doctor has to be by his office at 9.00 am, will be marked late if he's still 'not in' by 9.15 am, and will definitely be marked absent if he's still not present by 10.00am.
He has to sign out at 4pm.
Moreover, he has to mention his time of arrival and departure in the attendance register
Hope that's right- it keeps changing and I can never get a grip on Government rules.
(Everyone but me quotes the Service Rules with great confidence and know all attitude)
What happens in 'desi'land
I choose the time-
I am a doctor. Period.
No one can question my integrity and commitment to work- because- I am a doctor.
I can grace the department by paying a visit at 9.30/9.43
I can write 9.00 am/ 9.14 am or any fancy time I choose irrespective of the time I did actually arrived
Any Head of the Department who questions this will be instantly unpopular and judged strict - despite the fact that he is only doing his duty.
The HoD can himself or herself be late on occasions and do what I do. In such a situation it becomes a free for all, everyone's happy that no one has to report on time. Such an event brings much cheer and goodwill in the department.
It often happens that I reach the department at 9.00am. - you guys know that I am sincere and hard working :P . What do I do next?- Obviously I go to the canteen and have my cuppa.
I would have done that anyway, even if I attended at 10.00am ;)
Proxy-
Obviously! I cannot afford to lose a casual leave day by getting marked absent when I am late (mind it! I am never late)
It's easy to work this out- I ask someone else to sign for me.
I can ask someone else to sign for me for days at a time- no questions asked.
I take great pride in signing for someone else when that poor soul is late.
Eyebrows raised- why??? i am only helping my colleague.
Sign out
Do I have to?
I can do that on the next day. Just sign in the departure column of the previous day.
It's easy.
Certainly, you dont expect me to stay till 4pm everyday?!?
Bandh days
Lets not go into this.
We take great pleasure in discussing attendance with our colleagues.
Infact, this thought of attending on time occupies most of our already overflowing brains.
In 'Firangi'land
There's no attendance register ???- What on earth!!
What if somebody decides to come late everyday of the week or for the month.
Its so unfair- I reach the department at 8pm and someone else comes late everyday!!!
Its an unfair land.
Well, my Professor in one hospital came in at 6.30am on most days and definitely by 8am.
Everyone's in by 8.15
If people are late- they have a good reason for it and they are apologetic about it.
I dont think these people have families, they dont have kids to drop off or do the necessary bazaar in the morning.
How on earth can they be in the hospital by 8am?
These blokes stay on till their work is over.
Which may be at 2pm(rarely). Else, it's 5pm -for everyone, which means everyone.
May be an hour earlier somedays- but those days are exceptions rather than the rule.
And in some places I worked- if I am on call for 24 hours- I have to leave by 4pm the next day(that's an hour early-yeaa)
My blissfully ignorant opinion-
There shouldnt be an attendance register
If I am responsible enough for my patients, I am certainly responsible for coming to the hospital on time.
There's a schedule to attend to, work to be done in the hospital. If I can do it by attending at 10.00am- so be it.
But regretfully, my work involves communicating with people, liaising with my colleagues from other departments- who may be waiting for me since 9am or beyond 3pm.
And so, patient care and teaching gets delayed.
But it's 'desi'land yaar! What's life without delays!
I dont have all the amenities of 'firangi'land.
It's a struggle to reach the hospital on time- have you ever tried the mad hour rush in 'desiland'?
At the end of the day, its about getting the work done in a proper way- its a 'desi'way- but it's our way.
Signing out- well, my work finishes by 3o'clock on half of the days.
What shall I do in the Department for 1 hour- chitchat and idle talk?
