Today, we played an interesting team exercise in communication.  Btw, as a disclaimer, we were not the best team, and we were nowhere close to being the best team. In fact, if there was last place, we probably would have taken the cake.

This is the exercise: one person receives a picture of a configuration of dominos which he/she must then instruct a partner who must reconstruct this configuration based purely off the verbal instructions.

We failed in all three iterations of the exercise.

Dr. Classen, our medical informatics-infectious disease physician extraordinaire, brought up the salient point: there’s a reason pilots and copilots sit right beside one another. It’s so they have a common frame of visual reference. Joint vision.

And it got me thinking.

We humans are visual creatures. We process information through five senses. The problem is that in healthcare, we LOVE to talk, talk, talk.… Continue reading →

You’re standing nervously. Sweat is pouring down your face. You don’t know whether your right foot or your left foot is carrying the brunt of your body weight, but you’re worried your next breath shifts your balance. Forget your balance. What about the other six people who could slip up at any moment? 

That’s teeter totter.

Simple to understand really.  There’s a plank that’s placed on a cinder block so that it can tip to one side or another.  Eggs are placed under each end.  The goal is to get eight people both on and off the plank.

This game is about being a good leader when you’re a leader and a great follower when you’re a follower.

Tips

1. Everything – information, movements, orders – should go through the leader directing the people on the plank.  The leader should be the only one who directs.… Continue reading →

Great first day. LOVED the breakout sessions especially as our group members (GROUP ONE shoutout!) got to know one another and were able to challenge each other in constructive ways.

That being said, some of the most personally provoking points I heard were in these group discussions, especially since they allowed me to reflect inward on my practice.  I mean, patient safety, has to start with the way I live, breath, and carry out the practice of medicine.  Right?

Still, by my own standards (hardening to the “MedStar” standard David raised), I am doing terribly. I don’t even introduce myself thoroughly to patients, especially when I’m on call.

Therefore, as a result of yesterday’s video and discussion, I created my own checklist for when I interact with a patient so I don’t forget anything.

H – HI, my name is Manas Nigam, I’m a resident surgeon here in… Continue reading →