Spinal surgeon Dr. David Harris joins us to talk about what a typical day of his looks like at his hospital.
Here is what he had to say: I am a fully certified professional doctor that deals with all kinds of spinal conditions that require surgical attention. As you might imagine, my work schedule as a surgeon is extremely demanding and busy, with medical emergencies taking up a large portion of my work time.
My typical day starts with a normal daily routine, just like you do: a cup of coffee, some time with my family, a quick glance through the day’s newspapers and then I drive to hospital.
On Arrival
On arrival at the facility, there will be a designated surgical assistant for the day who briefs me on the day’s schedule. The briefing involves the assistant informing me about the cases that have been scheduled for the day and what each case entails. I usually start my day around 8 a.m., unless there is an emergency that requires my immediate attention.
The first task is to meet the team at the facility who include fellows, residents and nurses to discuss the status of the patients that have been brought in overnight. My next task is to check out the lab results, imaging studies and other issues, especially for new admissions. My next communication is to the assistant to organise the necessary personnel, supplies and equipment according to a checklist that I come up with for each specific procedure. It is the role of the assistant to make sure that each requirement is available at any specific time. I prioritise the cases depending on the time they came in or depending on the urgency of the condition. Some of the cases I handle will also depend on the readiness of the patient for surgery. This happens because some of the patients that come in will need significant preparation and time before they are ready for the procedure. After everything is set, I am now ready to see the first patient.
The Procedures
Most of the conditions that I come across include things like herniated discs, spine fractures, spinal compression, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, spinal tumours and a host of other back-related conditions that require surgical intervention. These conditions have different patient preparation and surgical approaches. On a typical day, I am in the operating room by 8.30 a.m. Depending on the case at hand; I get assistance from various assistants and an anaesthetist. The duration of each procedure depends on several factors, top of the list being the severity of the condition. After the surgery, the patient goes to the postoperative area and I take a short break to prepare for the next case. Nurses watch over the patient, giving me periodic updates on his or her progress.
Clinic Days
I have two days reserved for clinical visits. The day usually starts at 8.30 a.m. in the morning and ends at 5 p.m. depending on the available cases to review. Each review ends with a schedule for surgery, prescription of medicine or a referral. On these days is when I also evaluate patients that I have operated on previously to gauge their progress.
Other Tasks
I also get to meet with other surgeons in the city and find out their views regarding this practice. A few times a year I get to attend spinal surgeon conferences and workshops to learn about new technologies. I also take part in medical charitable organisations that help wounded citizens who don’t have enough money to pay for surgical operations. At times, emergencies force me to get back to the facility even at odd times of the night. The latest emergency was for an accident victim who required immediate surgery at 2 a.m. in the night. The good thing is that I work at a 24/7 facility, meaning my staff are always at hand to help even if I am unavailable.
Do aspire to become a surgeon? What steps are you taking to get there?
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