Tales of the ER: Behind the Curtain

So my medical student colleague L and I were paged to the ER to see a patient who had just had a stroke. The neurology team was around the bed, waiting for the ECG tech to show up to test for any cardiac problems (which is standard procedure). The attending physician was teaching the fairly large group of residents and students some of the finer points of neurological evaluation. L and I were standing at the fringe of the group beyond the foot of the bed, paying attention and trying to learn everything we could.

Suddenly the ECG tech shows up with his device on wheels, pushes through the group to the foot of the bed, and with a practiced flick of the wrist flings the curtain closed. Right in the faces of L and myself. Leaving the two us standing out in the hall by ourselves with the fabric tickling our noses.

Sometimes I just love medical school.