Balancing appointments and work schedule is always a challenge

Taking appointments is a challenging task in private practice. No matter what you do, you cannot please everyone. You have to have a clear conscience and act accordingly. You must keep your first appointment of the day on time. After that it is left at the mercy of hundreds of situations beyond your control. There is no point in secreting adrenaline and it is better to inform or arrange one of your colleagues to manage. Whatever one does, one has to hear from the surgeon “you have taken appointments very closely”. They forget that the anaesthesiologist is being delayed by one of their own kith. I once seriously consulted my teacher about this issue regarding schedule and being on time. His advices was to attend your first case in or before time and in case of delay say “sorry” and start the case. An experienced anesthesiologist can narrate hundreds of stories regarding appointments where no explanation is valid and you are blamed. Forget it and remind the surgeon of the delays that he has caused you and keep your cool; make sure that your anger is not reflected in the conduction of your next case. The surgeon will always have some explanation or excuse. Always talk to the surgeon previous day. A hernia on list can be bilateral hernia or an incisional hernia. This can upset your timing schedule. In any case inform the next surgeon about your whereabouts and the cause for your delay.
In cases you have met with complications or death, discuss the case with your teacher or any senior anesthesiologist. Narrate as things have happened truly, you will always get proper explanation. In case you are not satisfied tell the senior frankly and seek the explanation from another senior anesthesiologist. The same problem can recur in your practice and hence it is better to remember the mistake you have committed.