[surgeryres]

I am a vascular surgeon, and have many patients in the ICU constantaly. #6 confuses me - the original operating surgeon should be a constant through the patient’s stay. And while the ICU doctor might be the captain while the patient is in the ICU, the original surgeon is the general. He has complete control and should dominate the patient’s care. While the surgeon can not be bedside 24/7, they or someone from their team should “round” at least once daily on these ICU patients, talking to family, checking catheters and tubes, reviewing medicines, checking wounds.

At least that’s how it’s done in Texas.

[hansthehorse]

I recently had emergency surgery for an obstructed small intestine and the surgeon was pretty much in charge of my care. I can't tell you how many times I heard "we have to talk to the surgeon before we do xxx" Members of his team saw me every morning and he came around every afternoon. This was at the West Palm Beach Medical Center in SE Florida.