A recent CNN article from a surgeon makes a good case for avoiding afternoon surgeries if at all possible.
The reason? Your surgical team might be sleepy. He argues:
I hear ya, Doc! Everyone hits a lull during the workday, especially after lunch. Combine that with a busy surgical schedule that often starts around 7:00 a.m., and it's easy to see why drowsiness and inattention might set in in the Operating Room.
From our experience in handling Ohio malpractice claims, I would add Friday surgeries to the list to avoid. Although not scientific, I have seen an anecdotal correlation between Friday surgeries and medical negligence. I recall distinctly two cases where physicians were in a hurry to "finish up" at the end of the day, and performed procedures that should have waited until the patients were more stable. Another involved a surgeon who made a mistake during the operation, and assumed the patient's immediate post-operative symptoms were "normal" when a CT scan would have revealed the surgical error. The patient was sent home, only to return the following Monday with life-threatening symptoms.
My best guess is that midweek morning is probably the best time to schedule any procedure. There is something to be said for "hump day" after all...
The reason? Your surgical team might be sleepy. He argues:
Our bodies follow natural circadian rhythms, which regulate our sleep/wake cycle, brain wave activity and certain bodily functions. These circadian rhythms dip between 3 and 5 p.m. each day, causing many of us to feel sleepy.
I hear ya, Doc! Everyone hits a lull during the workday, especially after lunch. Combine that with a busy surgical schedule that often starts around 7:00 a.m., and it's easy to see why drowsiness and inattention might set in in the Operating Room.
From our experience in handling Ohio malpractice claims, I would add Friday surgeries to the list to avoid. Although not scientific, I have seen an anecdotal correlation between Friday surgeries and medical negligence. I recall distinctly two cases where physicians were in a hurry to "finish up" at the end of the day, and performed procedures that should have waited until the patients were more stable. Another involved a surgeon who made a mistake during the operation, and assumed the patient's immediate post-operative symptoms were "normal" when a CT scan would have revealed the surgical error. The patient was sent home, only to return the following Monday with life-threatening symptoms.
My best guess is that midweek morning is probably the best time to schedule any procedure. There is something to be said for "hump day" after all...
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