The “Memorable Tweets” series is a monthly compilation of notable past tweets from the microblog version of On The Wards. The entries may provide some — albeit small — insight into my world as a clinical physician and scientist.

The comments are invariably true and may reflect real-life experiences. I have nevertheless made every effort to protect patient privacy. Most tweets are sufficiently obfuscated to avoid identification of any particular patient. If you feel a comment resembles your case, it is highly likely a mere coincidence. But if you’re a patient who is absolutely convinced that I was talking about you, and would prefer that I not, then contact me and we can discuss this.

• The new UCLA medical center by I.M. Pei is gorgeous! I hear the marble is imported. Of course, this all happened before the recession.
  5:03 PM Feb 1st from web

• There are very sick people in the hospital right now: 3 codes and 4 intubations in 3 hours.
  5:28 PM Feb 2nd from web

• I have encountered 4 cases of FUO (fever of unknown origin) in the past 2 weeks. The Infectious Diseases service is perplexed as well.
  7:23 PM Feb 4th from web

• Your team can sometimes make or break your experience.
  5:04 AM Feb 8th from TwitterMail

• … but in the patient’s best interest, we have to learn to get along with the team.
  5:05 AM Feb 8th from TwitterMail

• I appreciate the hard work of those in the Kitchen services, but my first experience with hospital food (for patients) was not too pleasant.
  12:06 PM Feb 16th from web

• Spent half a day tracking down relatives for a comatose patient. I even had to request police assistance.
  7:52 AM Feb 22nd from web

• Hospital near 100% capacity. Patients via EMS now being diverted elsewhere.
  9:38 PM Feb 22nd from TwitterMail

• It’s not a good sign when the family plans the funeral while the patient is still alive … intubated/sedated, yes, but not terminal.
  8:31 AM Feb 24th from web

• It’s not a good sign when the code team rushes by me, while I’m waiting for the elevator … and I reach ground floor before they do.
  8:32 AM Feb 24th from web

• Did you know that the rate of chest compressions in CPR = beats in “Staying Alive” or “Another One Bites The Dust”?
  8:45 AM Feb 25th from web

• I wouldn’t sing the second song though during CPR … at least not aloud.
  8:46 AM Feb 25th from web

• Obesity hypoventilation syndrome seems to be a common trend lately. Had another tubed/trached patient too large to fit in the CT scanner.
  12:34 PM Feb 26th from web

• @Juan_Negro That’s right … we’ve got the McDonald’s generation to treat.
  1:21 PM Feb 26th from web in reply to jonathandblack