The NY Times today writes about the so-called July syndrome – the time when the new house staff start at teaching hospitals across the country. There is no data to support worse patient outcomes in July – although I can certainly remember the potential for disaster.
My very first day was being the night-float intern at the former Boston City Hospital. This meant cross-covering every medical patient in the hospital, with tasks ranging from drawing blood cultures and putting in IVs to dealing with psychotic outbursts. And to think I was a medical student just 24-hours before. Talk about trial by fire.
