Organization: the key to Organization: the key to efficiencyefficiency

Practical advice for the Practical advice for the busy life of an internbusy life of an intern

Dana AngeliniDana Angelini7/2/127/2/12

TopicsTopics

Organize yourself at workOrganize yourself at work Organize yourself at homeOrganize yourself at home Pearls from “mama mollicone”Pearls from “mama mollicone”

Being an Efficient InternBeing an Efficient Intern

Can be a frustrating struggle early in yearCan be a frustrating struggle early in year Takes time to develop your styleTakes time to develop your style Trial and error (and error)Trial and error (and error) You will get there!You will get there!

Being an Efficient InternBeing an Efficient Intern

Start your day with the motto: Start your day with the motto: ““I am in control of my day”I am in control of my day”

Deep breath prior to entering hospitalDeep breath prior to entering hospital Let go of issues/struggles of yesterday; Let go of issues/struggles of yesterday;

learn from your mistakeslearn from your mistakes Build your knowledge baseBuild your knowledge base

Both medical knowledgeBoth medical knowledge Systematic knowledgeSystematic knowledge

Being an Efficient InternBeing an Efficient Intern Pre-round with insightPre-round with insight

Know what you are looking forKnow what you are looking for Anticipate what your attending will askAnticipate what your attending will ask Always know current vitals, peaks, trendsAlways know current vitals, peaks, trends Thorough focused exam is better than sloppy Thorough focused exam is better than sloppy

overviewoverview Have Have current current med listmed list

• Helpful to have H&P on handHelpful to have H&P on hand Be able to get out of there (politely)Be able to get out of there (politely)

Being an Efficient InternBeing an Efficient Intern

Have a packet for each patientHave a packet for each patient Keep track of all “to-do’s” during roundsKeep track of all “to-do’s” during rounds Write down everything!!Write down everything!! Pay attention to your co-interns patientsPay attention to your co-interns patients

Will help with those pages later in the day!Will help with those pages later in the day! Learn from those patients as well!Learn from those patients as well!

Make note of topics you want to read about laterMake note of topics you want to read about later Make sure to “run the list” with your senior soon Make sure to “run the list” with your senior soon

after roundsafter rounds

Being an Efficient InternBeing an Efficient Intern

After RoundsAfter Rounds GO GO GO!!!!!GO GO GO!!!!! Never forget the COLD AcronymNever forget the COLD Acronym

• ConsultsConsults• OrdersOrders• LabsLabs• DischargesDischarges

Learn to multitaskLearn to multitask• Put in orders while waiting for someone to call you Put in orders while waiting for someone to call you

backback

Being an Efficient InternBeing an Efficient Intern

Anticipate and plan for dischargesAnticipate and plan for discharges Gold forms can be time consumingGold forms can be time consuming Touch base with social work/care coordinators Touch base with social work/care coordinators

earlyearly Social work helps set up SNFSocial work helps set up SNF Care Coordinators handle home careCare Coordinators handle home care

Start Gold Forms earlyStart Gold Forms early

Being an Efficient InternBeing an Efficient Intern

Don’t re-do the same task twiceDon’t re-do the same task twice Call the operator ONCE after rounds and get Call the operator ONCE after rounds and get

all the pager numbers you need for your all the pager numbers you need for your patientspatients

Write down consultant pager numbers or put Write down consultant pager numbers or put in HOT tool; use throughout your rotationin HOT tool; use throughout your rotation

Try not to waste time logging in and out of Try not to waste time logging in and out of computers all the timecomputers all the time

Being an Efficient InternBeing an Efficient Intern

Note WritingNote Writing Remember Dr. Augustine’s tipsRemember Dr. Augustine’s tips Can hold you down if you let it!Can hold you down if you let it! Be succinct, pertinent: will save you time and Be succinct, pertinent: will save you time and

help you see the big picture. help you see the big picture. HOTHOT

Complete as you write your noteComplete as you write your note

Organizing Yourself at HomeOrganizing Yourself at Home

Will help ease anxiety and stress over Will help ease anxiety and stress over every day mattersevery day matters

10 tips to help organize you life10 tips to help organize you life Tips for intern year and beyondTips for intern year and beyond

Tip #1: Write Things DownTip #1: Write Things Down

Know the details of your patientsKnow the details of your patients Keep lists!Keep lists!

Keep notepads around your houseKeep notepads around your house• Keep personal To-Do listsKeep personal To-Do lists• Keep lists of items you need to purchase as you Keep lists of items you need to purchase as you

discover you need them.discover you need them.

Does your phone have an app for that?Does your phone have an app for that?

Tip #2: If something can be done Tip #2: If something can be done right away- DO ITright away- DO IT

Paying billsPaying bills Going through mailGoing through mail Answering emailsAnswering emails Returning phone callsReturning phone calls DICTATIONS!!DICTATIONS!!

Tip #3: CVS is one stop shoppingTip #3: CVS is one stop shopping

Toiletries/personal itemsToiletries/personal items Greeting cardsGreeting cards PharmacyPharmacy Basic food items/snacks/even beer&wineBasic food items/snacks/even beer&wine Pet needsPet needs Etc Etc….Etc Etc….

Tip #4: Beating the Tip #4: Beating the “9 to 5” dilemma“9 to 5” dilemma

Have your list available for referenceHave your list available for reference Maximize your days offMaximize your days off Most banks have Saturday hoursMost banks have Saturday hours Most businesses have some late hours Most businesses have some late hours Dentist open on Sat?Dentist open on Sat? Schedule late doc appointment on happy daySchedule late doc appointment on happy day Out early? Get one task done before heading Out early? Get one task done before heading

homehome

Tip #5: Know your routineTip #5: Know your routine

Try to put things in the same place every timeTry to put things in the same place every time KeysKeys Cell phone/ IPAD!!Cell phone/ IPAD!! White coat/pager/ID badgeWhite coat/pager/ID badge Work shoesWork shoes

Helps decrease time you spend looking for these Helps decrease time you spend looking for these items and helps MAXIMIZE sleep in the morningitems and helps MAXIMIZE sleep in the morning

Make a habit and stick to itMake a habit and stick to it

Tip #6: The File BoxTip #6: The File Box CVS might not have one, but Office Max doesCVS might not have one, but Office Max does Get supplies:Get supplies:

Folders, tabs, sharpiesFolders, tabs, sharpies General categoriesGeneral categories

BillsBills Residency infoResidency info Finances/credit cardsFinances/credit cards My health/insuranceMy health/insurance Loans/taxesLoans/taxes CarCar WarrantiesWarranties ComputerComputer Important documentsImportant documents

File as you go: don’t let this build up!File as you go: don’t let this build up! Get a Get a Shredder!Shredder!

Tip #7: The BinderTip #7: The Binder

Do you have a stack of articles you plan Do you have a stack of articles you plan on reading?on reading?

Do you have a pile of articles/references Do you have a pile of articles/references from med school you would like to keep?from med school you would like to keep?

Do you have a 3” black binder organized Do you have a 3” black binder organized by organ system?by organ system?

Tip #8: Keep your Tip #8: Keep your personal life organizedpersonal life organized

Know your work schedule before Know your work schedule before committingcommitting

Take opportunities for fun when you canTake opportunities for fun when you can Know your fundsKnow your funds

Balance your check bookBalance your check book Don’t be late with paymentsDon’t be late with payments Will likely decrease your 9-5 dilemmasWill likely decrease your 9-5 dilemmas

Use a calendarUse a calendar

Tip #9: Have an organized houseTip #9: Have an organized house

Get rid of JUNK!!!Get rid of JUNK!!! You just moved; good time to reassess your stuffYou just moved; good time to reassess your stuff Go through closet for items to toss or donate 1-2x/yearGo through closet for items to toss or donate 1-2x/year If you haven’t used it in a year-TOSSIf you haven’t used it in a year-TOSS You may be attached to med school notes/binders-but…You may be attached to med school notes/binders-but… Don’t feel guilty about tossing old gifts you don’t like or Don’t feel guilty about tossing old gifts you don’t like or

useuse Use boxes, labels, everything should have a “place”Use boxes, labels, everything should have a “place”

Helps you get things back together when they get out of handHelps you get things back together when they get out of hand

Tip #10: Keep a Clean HouseTip #10: Keep a Clean House

Start with making your bedStart with making your bed Daily 5-10 minute cleaningDaily 5-10 minute cleaning Quick Clorox wipe downs of surfacesQuick Clorox wipe downs of surfaces Every few weeks clean areas that don’t Every few weeks clean areas that don’t

normally get attentionnormally get attention Start high and work your way downStart high and work your way down

Pearls from Mamma MolliconePearls from Mamma Mollicone

Being efficient and organized is a Being efficient and organized is a residents means of survivalresidents means of survival

Applying these tips in everyday life will Applying these tips in everyday life will help ease stresshelp ease stress

Overall, try to stay on top of your tasksOverall, try to stay on top of your tasks Remember to take time for yourselfRemember to take time for yourself