Critical Care Volume 12 Issue 3

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24/7 in-house intensivist coverage enhances junior doctor training

Nishith Patel   (03 July 2008)  Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Marlborough Street, Bristol. BS2 8HW.

I read with interest the well-balanced article by Arabi on the debateful topic 'Should 24/7 in-house intensivist coverage be implemented?' The article focuses on the impact 24/7 intensivist cover would have on patient outcomes. To add to this article it is also important to recognise the impact this has on junior doctor training. Having worked in a large university intensive care unit which had 24/7 resident senior intensivist cover, I experienced more opportunities to develop my procedural skills and handle clinical cases. This was always under supervision, initially the senior intensivist playing a major role in the management but this gradually decreased to give me more autonomy. In addition, as the senior intensivist was resident 24/7, training continued throughout the night, whether in the form of didactical teaching, informal discussions, procedural demonstrations and overseeing cases I may be managaing. Overall, I believe that 24/7 intensive cover not only is beneficial for patients, but has a positive impact on training of junior doctors.

Competing interests

Nil

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