Elaine pushed forward a small device. “We’re going to be recording this meeting, so please be aware that anything you say is officially on the record.”
Now, that really made her nervous. “Dr. Martin, I’m not sure… I really have only had a few days of contact with Dr. Ellis. My work with her is in the very earliest stages.”
Steve Sundstrom chimed in. “We agree, it’s very early. But we just need an idea of what you’ve observed, Dr. Monroe,” he explained. “It’s not a commitment; we’re not asking you to tell us that you know what’s wrong and how to fix it. We just need some idea of what might be happening, and your initial impressions. We won’t be making any final decisions based on the information you provide today.”
That made Anna feel somewhat better. “I see.”
“So.” Elaine opened a small folio that lay before her and folded her hands together. “I’ll begin. This is a status update on the psychological evaluation of Dr. Victoria Ellis, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon here at Oakridge Hospital. Approximately two weeks ago, Dr. Ellis experienced a catastrophic event while concluding a coronary artery bypass graft. The patient, Daniel Jennings, experienced a known possible complication of this procedure, a blood clot traveling to the heart, that resulted in their death.” She was reading from a report in the folio, her voice calm and impartial. “In the course of informing the decedent’s family of the passing, she was verbally accosted by said family in the surgical waiting room. Following this encounter, Dr. Ellis was found in a stairwell by another member of staff, seemingly experiencing a state of extreme emotional distress.”
Anna held her breath. Reading about that Monday had been unpleasant enough. Hearing it read aloud had a greater impact altogether. And she’d simply dismissed it as Victoriahaving a very bad Monday indeed. She closed her eyes in shame as Elaine read on. “Later that same day, Dr. Ellis was due to perform another surgical procedure, a routine stent insertion. While the patient was on the table, she began insisting that they be removed and returned for another CT scan to verify there were no possible blood clots. When informed that this was unnecessary and urged to continue on with the procedure, Dr. Ellis dropped the scalpel she held, then ran out of the room, apparently feeling unable to proceed without the perceived security of another CT scan. She departed hospital grounds, and was not seen for a full day.”
Another page flip. “Dr. Ellis has been directed to undergo psychological evaluation and treatment from the Oakridge Hospital Staff Wellness Center, under the care of Dr. AnnaMonroe, PsyD. She has reluctantly submitted to several appointments, and has been observed in the course of her surgical duties by Dr. Monroe. Two days ago, while performing her first coronary artery bypass graft since the patient loss, Dr. Ellis was observed by myself, Chief of Surgery Sundstrom, and Dr. Monroe. At the end of the procedure, Dr. Ellis appeared to suffer a brief “freeze” moment. She did recover, and completed the procedure successfully. However following patient closure, Dr. Ellis was observed confronting Dr. Monroe in a corridor outside of the operating theater?—”
Anna’s eyes opened wide in shock. She hadn’t seen anyone around them, hadn’t realized they’d possibly been overheard.
“Following which, Dr. Ellis once again disappeared from the hospital and has not answered phone outreach attempts since then. Her vehicle remains in the hospital parking garage.”
Further shock rocketed through Anna. Unreachable for nearly twodays?“Has anyone gone to her residence?”
Elaine nodded. “Dr. Ashley Proctor did visit, Dr. Ellis answered the door in a relatively calm state yesterday, so we know she is alive and in town. She has requested a few days of leave, which we have granted. Now, Dr. Monroe…” Her gaze was expectant. “Can you enlighten us as to the complete contents of your conversation in the corridor two days ago?”
Anna took a long, deep breath and squared her shoulders back. She had to swallow before she could speak. “As you know, Dr. Martin, part of my work with Dr. Ellis has included researching some of her past surgeries. This is because during one of our sessions while describing the CABG procedure that went wrong, she used another patient’s name. Unconsciously. This and other factors indicated to me that it wasn’t the recent surgery gone wrong that was the root of her issues, but something further in the past. I took the name and consulted Dr. Martin to see if it matched a past surgery.”
“Hilary Jensen.” Elaine flipped to another page in her folio. “Ms. Jensen came to Oakridge approximately six months ago to have Dr. Ellis perform a CABG procedure. She was insistent that it be Dr. Ellis. As with the previous CABG procedure performed on Mr. Jennings, there was a catastrophic blood clot incident and Ms. Jensen, too, expired on the table.”
Poor Victoria. Reading that in the patient file had been an enormous shock to Anna’s system. To lose two patients the same way within six months… no wonder Victoria hadn’t been able to proceed with the stent insertion that same day, not without another CT scan.
Anna did not think that was the only issue causing Victoria’s emotional distress, but it certainly couldn’t be helping.
She picked up the thread of the reporting again. “When I confronted Dr. Ellis in the corridor, I asked her about Ms. Jensen. She seemed surprised that I knew the name and reacted with hostility. When pressed, she departed in haste.”
“And that brings us up to date,” Elaine said, closing her folio. “Dr. Monroe, what are your findings as of now, with the information that you have?”
Anna hesitated, gathering her thoughts and impressions from a racing mind. “I think… I think that Dr. Ellis is a profoundly gifted physician. Her track record is, by and large, one that is a credit to this hospital and to her education. She is over all clinically competent.”
“But?” The question came from Marcus Kinkade, the first time he had spoken in this meeting. When Anna looked at him, his pinched face had a shrewd expression on it that she did not like. She decided to choose her words with even more care.
“But, there is… some instability.” The words were halting, stumbling out of her mouth, hampered by her caution. Elaine and Steve might not be planning to make any choices based on Anna’s words today, but Marcus Kinkade seemed like he mightbe. She would not be a tool used for whatever agenda he had in mind. “Whatever has happened in the past with the two CABG patients has had an impact on her emotional and mental health. This needs addressing.”
“And do you think you can address it?” Kinkade gestured at his own copy of the report in front of him. “Can you solve our little cracking-up surgeon problem?”
Before Anna could respond, Elaine’s eyes narrowed and she leaned forward in her seat, twisting to face Kinkade. “Marcus, are there some concerns that you’d like to share with the room?”
“Not at all,” he replied silkily, sitting back while a smile played on his lips. “But I do have to think twice about staffing a surgeon that freezes up during procedures, or leaves the hospital with surgeries scheduled that we have to scramble to get covered.”
“Which would be why we are here today, to chart a course of action with Dr. Monroe.” Elaine’s tone was ice cold. “And I would ask you to refrain from using such unprofessional terms as ‘cracking up’ when referring to a member of staff.”
“Yes, yes.” Kinkade waved one dismissive hand. “Dr. Monroe? Your thoughts?”
“I believe that Dr. Ellis’ issues are not insurmountable. If I can…” Anna searched for the right words. “If I can make inroads with her, get her to open up and to be willing to take my advice on board, then with time, we can address the underlying root of her emotional turmoil and, hopefully, resolve it.”
“Hopefully.” Kinkade snorted and rolled his eyes.
Elaine smacked her hands on the table and pushed herself to her feet, blue eyes steely. “I think that’s quite enough for today. Thank you for your professional opinion, Dr. Monroe, and for your time. Please continue with your treatment plan for Dr. Ellis.”
“Do we know what this treatment planis?” asked Kinkade, a silver eyebrow lifting.
“Ethical concerns and HIPAA forbid me outlining a specific plan to you, that would be confidential, between myself and the patient,” Anna informed him sweetly, enjoying the scowl she received in return… and Elaine and Steve’s hastily hidden smirks.
