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CUTTING REMARKS
for the first time and in a matter of seconds passes out. Hopefully there
is someone nearby who can ensure that the victim has a soft landing,
but sadly at times a loud thump is what first brings my attention to this
occurrence. A flurry of nursing activity and code blue soon follows,
whereupon the poor faintee is revived and usually dispatched to the
emergency room for a complete concussion evaluation. Maybe we
should consider an observer zone with floor mats. Here is one example
where a crowded room pays off. Last month the room was so crowded,
a student passed out at 10 a.m. and didn't hit the floor till noon.
For science's sake
Despite the perils of letting visitors observe, we're all obliged to teach
and inform the next generation of nurses and docs. Until virtual reality becomes a reality, I'll continue to eat the risks of teaching in the
name of science, as long as my infection — and concussion — rates
remain low. OSM
Dr. Kelly (johndak4@gmail.com) is an orthopedic surgeon/ sports-shoulder
specialist who practices in Philadelphia, Pa.
FULL HOUSE
Crowd Control
Even though I perform mostly
arthroscopic, low-infection-risk
surgery, when my OR gets as
crowded as Times Square, I say "no
mas!" and put the kibosh on more
observers. The nurses gladly accommodate my request and will place this DO
NOT ENTER fabric sign on the door, replete with Velcro fixation. It works.
— John D. Kelly IV, MD
