Chapter 6 #3
“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 might be.
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 plan is?” 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.
Kinkade exchanged a glance with Heather Sanders, who hadn’t spoken up once during this meeting. Anna knew immediately that they had been anticipating a very different report from her, and she suspected they hadn’t expected Elaine to be quite so belligerent. Something was clearly afoot.
One glance at Elaine told Anna that she, too, was keenly aware of some kind of shenanigans from Kinkade.
As she watched him leave the room with mousy Heather, her blue eyes were narrowed, and glittered ominously.
When the door closed behind the Dastardly Duo, she looked directly at Anna.
“Yes, they’re planning something. Markus has been making budget noises more and more loudly lately.
Getting rid of a surgeon of Victoria’s stature would be quite a feather in his miserly little cap. ”
Anna frowned. “She hasn’t done anything dismissible. Yet.”
“Yet,” Elaine echoed. “But only just. He’s right about her walkouts being a problem. So, it’s up to us to make sure she gets her head on straight.” She held up a hand. “But you cannot tell her about any of this. I can’t imagine it would do anything besides undermine her progress.”
“At this moment, that’s true. You would be doing her a disservice not to eventually tell her, though,” Anna warned.
“I understand that, Anna.” The words were firm, but Elaine was smiling gently. “Eventually. For now, I will do my part to get her back into your office and cooperating.”
Steve was looking between them, apprehension on his face. “You do have a plan, right, Dr. Monroe?” Anxiety threaded his voice. “I can’t afford to lose a surgeon of Dr. Ellis’ caliber. Even when she’s perhaps… emotionally compromised, let’s say, she is focused and precise. Once Elaine retires…”
“Not too speedy on that one just yet, Steve,” Elaine chortled.
“Of course not, Elaine. But it is coming, and we know Dr. Proctor will be your successor. She needs a solid team alongside her and we’ve always seen Dr. Ellis as her right-hand woman. What do we do if Markus finds a way to send her packing?”
“He won’t.” Anna was firm on this. “I believe Dr. Ellis can get well. I just need time and space to make more inroads with her, get her on a path to addressing her root issues and confronting them. She’s not an easy one to guide.”
“She is not.” Elaine nodded. “I’ll work on her. She will come back to your office this week. I’ll give you a couple of days to work on a game plan before I send her back in.”
“Great.” Anna shook both of their hands. “I’ve got to get back to my office, I do have more patients to see this morning.”
“Of course, go, go, go.” Elaine waved her off. “Thank you for your time today.”
Anna walked briskly back to her office, her mind racing. She hadn’t realized there was so much at stake, and so soon. It wasn’t fair to Victoria, who was already feeling as though her back was up against the wall. Now she would be put under a microscope, and wouldn’t even know it.
Nor was any of this fair to Anna, if she were being honest with herself.
What would happen if she didn’t produce the results Elaine wanted…
or what if she did? Would Markus Kinkade then start making noises about her to the director of Staff Wellness?
He seemed to be rather cozy with Mousy Heather from Human Resources, what could that mean for any of them?
“I’m inviting trouble,” she said aloud, but softly, as she unlocked the door to her office. “First things first.”
She needed to make a game plan.