Can't see the need for the typist, Tony. All our clinical records are typed
directly into the system "live" by the treating doctor. That includes new
patients, review patients and ward/CDU patients. Administrative
correspondence tends to be self-typed also, or just emailed direct. So what
I'm getting at is that it strikes me that BAEM have set their goal posts too
high, and have failed to take into account the rapid advancement of both
technology and culture in emergency medicine. To my mind one secretary is
quite adequate for our four consultants, and probably will be for six or
even eight consultants, as long as we have state-of-the-art IT at our
fingertips.
AF
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Adams" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 4:01 PM
Subject: Re: Consultant office usage
A welcomed evolution of the subject, Adrian.
I wonder if there is clerical/admin support composition for the ED that
people feel work perfectly, or nigh on that?
If just one secretary, is she allowed 2, or even 3 weeks off at any time?
Then who provides the cover? What about the busier times such as induction,
and preparing stuff for FY2s, Med Students, clinics etc etc?
I think that there is a need for a department administrator and a (more
junior) typist at least.
Thoughts?
Tony
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Accident and Emergency Academic List [mailto:ACAD-AE-
> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Adrian Fogarty
> Sent: 17 August 2005 07:03
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Consultant office usage
>
> Given four days' radio silence, I've taken the liberty of amending the
> thread subject but would be interested to hear how many of you have
> secretarial support in keeping with BAEM guidelines, i.e. one secretary
> for
> every two consultants? Or do you think the whole idea of a consultant
> secretary is an outdated concept for A&E, to be replaced - as in
> anaesthesia
> for example - by a department secretary? We certainly seem to cope fine
> with
> just one secretary between four consultants, and that probably reflects
> the
> increasing use of IT together with an associated reduction in old-
> fashioned
> audiotyping seen over the last few years.
>
> Adrian Fogarty
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