Organization: the key to
efficiency
Practical advice for the
busy life of an intern
Dana Angelini
7/2/12
Topics
 Organize
yourself at work
 Organize yourself at home
 Pearls from “mama mollicone”
Being an Efficient Intern
 Can
be a frustrating struggle early in year
 Takes time to develop your style
 Trial and error (and error)
 You will get there!
Being an Efficient Intern
 Start

your day with the motto:
“I am in control of my day”
 Deep
breath prior to entering hospital
 Let go of issues/struggles of yesterday;
learn from your mistakes
 Build your knowledge base
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Both medical knowledge
Systematic knowledge
Being an Efficient Intern
 Pre-round

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with insight
Know what you are looking for
Anticipate what your attending will ask
Always know current vitals, peaks, trends
Thorough focused exam is better than sloppy
overview
Have current med list
• Helpful to have H&P on hand

Be able to get out of there (politely)
Being an Efficient Intern

Have a packet for each patient
 Keep track of all “to-do’s” during rounds
 Write down everything!!
 Pay attention to your co-interns patients

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Will help with those pages later in the day!
Learn from those patients as well!
Make note of topics you want to read about later
 Make sure to “run the list” with your senior soon
after rounds
Being an Efficient Intern
 After

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GO GO GO!!!!!
Never forget the COLD Acronym
•
•
•
•

Rounds
Consults
Orders
Labs
Discharges
Learn to multitask
• Put in orders while waiting for someone to call you
back
Being an Efficient Intern
 Anticipate


Gold forms can be time consuming
Touch base with social work/care coordinators
early

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and plan for discharges
Social work helps set up SNF
Care Coordinators handle home care
Start Gold Forms early
Being an Efficient Intern
 Don’t


re-do the same task twice
Call the operator ONCE after rounds and get
all the pager numbers you need for your
patients
Write down consultant pager numbers or put
in HOT tool; use throughout your rotation
 Try
not to waste time logging in and out of
computers all the time
Being an Efficient Intern
 Note

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Writing
Remember Dr. Augustine’s tips
Can hold you down if you let it!
Be succinct, pertinent: will save you time and
help you see the big picture.
 HOT

Complete as you write your note
Organizing Yourself at Home
 Will
help ease anxiety and stress over
every day matters
 10 tips to help organize you life
 Tips for intern year and beyond
Tip #1: Write Things Down
 Know
the details of your patients
 Keep lists!

Keep notepads around your house
• Keep personal To-Do lists
• Keep lists of items you need to purchase as you
discover you need them.
 Does
your phone have an app for that?
Tip #2: If something can be done
right away- DO IT
 Paying
bills
 Going through mail
 Answering emails
 Returning phone calls
 DICTATIONS!!
Tip #3: CVS is one stop shopping
 Toiletries/personal
 Greeting
items
cards
 Pharmacy
 Basic food items/snacks/even beer&wine
 Pet needs
 Etc Etc….
Tip #4: Beating the
“9 to 5” dilemma
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Have your list available for reference
Maximize your days off
Most banks have Saturday hours
Most businesses have some late hours
Dentist open on Sat?
Schedule late doc appointment on happy day
Out early? Get one task done before heading
home
Tip #5: Know your routine

Try to put things in the same place every time

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
Keys
Cell phone/ IPAD!!
White coat/pager/ID badge
Work shoes
Helps decrease time you spend looking for
these items and helps MAXIMIZE sleep in the
morning
 Make a habit and stick to it
Tip #6: The File Box


CVS might not have one, but Office Max does
Get supplies:


General categories
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Folders, tabs, sharpies
Bills
Residency info
Finances/credit cards
My health/insurance
Loans/taxes
Car
Warranties
Computer
Important documents
File as you go: don’t let this build up!
Get a Shredder!
Tip #7: The Binder
 Do
you have a stack of articles you plan
on reading?
 Do you have a pile of articles/references
from med school you would like to keep?
 Do you have a 3” black binder organized
by organ system?
Tip #8: Keep your
personal life organized
 Know
your work schedule before
committing
 Take opportunities for fun when you can
 Know your funds

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Balance your check book
Don’t be late with payments
Will likely decrease your 9-5 dilemmas
 Use
a calendar
Tip #9: Have an organized house
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Get rid of JUNK!!!
You just moved; good time to reassess your stuff
Go through closet for items to toss or donate 1-2x/year
If you haven’t used it in a year-TOSS
You may be attached to med school notes/binders-but…
Don’t feel guilty about tossing old gifts you don’t like or
use
Use boxes, labels, everything should have a “place”

Helps you get things back together when they get out of hand
Tip #10: Keep a Clean House
 Start
with making your bed
 Daily 5-10 minute cleaning
 Quick Clorox wipe downs of surfaces
 Every few weeks clean areas that don’t
normally get attention
 Start high and work your way down
Pearls from Mamma Mollicone
 Being
efficient and organized is a
residents means of survival
 Applying these tips in everyday life will
help ease stress
 Overall, try to stay on top of your tasks
 Remember to take time for yourself