ME
This is Michelle from psychiatry!
INTERN
Oh, hi, thanks for calling back. I wanted to place a psych consult?
ME
Sure, what's going on?
INTERN
We want you to come evaluate our patient to see if she needs to be put on a hold for grave disability.
ME
Okay...why do you think she's gravely disabled?
INTERN
She stopped eating yesterday.
ME
Did she say why?
INTERN
No, but she looks sad.
ME
Hm, was she eating before?
INTERN
Yeah, it's really weird. She's pretty cooperative with everyone, but she just stopped eating yesterday. There's been 0% intake since yesterday at lunch time.
ME
Huh. That is pretty weird. Let me do a quick chart review to see if she's ever seen psych before. I'll call you back.
---
On chart review, I found out that the patient had a small bowel obstruction, and was scheduled for surgery today. And when you're going for surgery, you don't get to eat the night before.
The patient was just following the surgeon's instructions.
Yes.
This was a real consult.
