“There is nothing more fulfilling than being able to save lives…”
It isn’t exactly a dream job to man a bustling emergency room with a constant steam of patients who are often brought in a critical state. This takes a lot of grit and staying calm, focussed and dedicated is the hallmark of this unique breed of emergency medicine professionals.
Rarely complimented, this team of professionals work 24/7 to heal and save every human being they examine. To add to this. they are often at the receiving end of inconsiderate relatives and irate crowds questioning their professional skills and ethics.
Today, We at Pune365 applaud this undying spirit of dedication to mankind and feature city based, Emergency Medicine Specialist, Dr. Roshan Palresha who is all of 32 years of age.
Here’s a glimpse into a ‘Day in The Life’ of an Emergency Medicine Professional in the city of Pune:
As an emergency doctor, we are constantly on our toes, as we can’t predict what case will come in through the door.
Emergency is the face of the hospital and we are the first point of contact for a patient with the first line of treatment is actioned at our end.
There is hardly any time to think, we have to take a split-second decision,” says Dr Roshan.
“My typical day begins at 9 AM and working long hours is quite normal, though have an 8 to 12 hours long shift at the emergency department, but nothing can be predicted. It entirely depends on the availability of doctors and the seriousness of the incoming patients.
We have patients coming in for complaints ranging from a common headache or fever to more serious issues like cardiac arrests, paediatric emergencies, gynaecology cases and at times, mass casualties,
In such situations, we have to be available even if our duty is over, be it day or night.
The emergency room is always buzzing, and we have to be on our toes 24×7, on or off duty.
“At times, the patient come with their irate relatives who become tough to handle. Keeping calm is the most important mantra we are taught, so that we can handle both the patient and the relatives.
There are times when we are at the receiving end of sheer disregard for protocol or decency. People often fail to understand, that we prioritise and treat patients based on the severity of their condition.
They lose their temper asking us to treat their patient first, without realising that some other patient may lose their life if we delay intervention..
When asked about attending fake and hoax calls, he says, “We treat every patient as an emergency and cannot predict if it is a fake call, or not.
Sometimes it is a fake call, and there is no patient, or they have called for us just for s simple headache but we cannot ignore it under any circumstances.
However, we take a brief history of the person and the complaint and decide whether an emergency doctor also need to be sent of just the ambulance with a nurse, adds Palresha.
Taking a day off is truly a luxury for this team of medical professionals and when quipped about his idea of leisure time, he says, “Most of the time, work is hectic, yet, we do get some days which allow for some breathers!
On the lucky few days when we finish our duty on time, then we rush home to spend time with family and friends. It is better now, since we get a day off after 48 work hours/ week. There are some hospitals where they have almost 60-70 hours of work/ week.
“I meet my family at times only once in 15 to 20 days, despite living in the same house. By the time I am back, they have slept or I am too exhausted to chat and retire for the day.
But yes,we have to have a day off after a week of work, else it would drain us completely. Unlike other steams, we get no national holidays, no fixed weekly offs and hardly any free time.
Recreation like movies and vacations are a long-lost dream, adds Palresha.
“But over time, we train ourselves to be in such situations, keep our calm (in the hospital or otherwise) and accept the fact that we cannot live a 9-5 routine. I try and workout whenever I get some time off and that is my stress buster.” he adds.
When asked as to what keeps him going, he says, “As an Emergency Physician I can proudly say that this is one of the fulfilling branches I have worked in. When you revive a person or can help him recover, the satisfaction is unparalleled.
This is what keeps us motivated. The fact that we can help people with our medical skills is in itself very motivating.
We have chosen to serve others and that is what keeps us going, says Dr. Roshan signing off with a smile.
~~
Reach her at loveleen@pune365.com or tweet @KaurKaur18
- Pune’s Interesting Midnight Food Delivery Options - July 26, 2019
- Excessive Shopping Could Signal Illness- Mental Health Experts - July 15, 2019
- Chronic Stress ? Seek Professional Help Before It Takes A Toll - July 9, 2019
