Interviewer: Oh, the bells are jingling somewhere, there's a Santa Claus ho-ho-hoeing. It's Christmas time and in the emergency room, Dr. Troy Madsen celebrating the holidays, busy at work. This is a special episode of The Scope that we want to call "Christmas in the ER."
Announcer: This is From The Front Lines with emergency room physician, Dr. Troy Madsen on The Scope.
Interviewer: Welcome, Dr. Madsen.
Dr. Madsen: Thank you. I feel like this should be a song. Isn't there like a country song "Christmas in Dixie." Christmas in the ER kind of song.
Interviewer: Yeah.
Dr. Madsen: Kind of a melancholy song, you're working in the ER.
Interviewer: If we were to sing that song, what would we sing about, Dr. Madsen? What does Christmas look like in the ER?
Dr. Madsen: Well, I tell you, I'm going to be working Christmas morning at 7 a.m. I will be there to greet you if you come in the ER. As all the kids are opening their toys from Santa, I'm scheduled to work 7 a.m. Christmas Day. So Christmas in the ER, it's one of those days where, it's a lot like working on night shift when it's snowing and I find when you work those nights or if you work Christmas Day, basically, if anyone makes it into the ER, they usually have something seriously wrong with them.
It's not the kind of day that the person walks in that's had abdominal pain for two years or a person walks in with a splinter in their finger something like that. People put those things off. If people come in the ER on Christmas morning, you know that it's probably something you better take seriously because no one's going to leave their home or just go in Christmas Day unless it's something they're really concerned about.
Interviewer: So you know some serious stuff is going to come through the door. Is there anything typically you see on Christmas Day?
Dr. Madsen: In terms of typical stuff Christmas Day, once in a while you can, I know this sounds kind of funny but you can see some sorts of injuries from opening presents, and I know that sounds a little silly, but there are.
Interviewer: It does.
Dr. Madsen: One of the kind of the things that is notorious for potentially causing lacerations and injuries in opening gifts are kind of these clam shell plastic cases.
Interviewer: Oh, yeah, really?
Dr. Madsen: Yeah, have you tried to cut into one of those things? Like I've done it. I've even cut myself on it because you cut the thing open, then you get your hand in there to try and pry it open, and those edges it's thick plastic, it can kind of cut into your finger. I know it sounds a little silly but sometimes you do see stuff like that from people opening things.
Interviewer: Yeah, I didn't think of you using a knife to open boxes and stuff if you're not paying attention or and there's probably . . .
Dr. Madsen: Yeah, keep using knives, box cutters, things like that.
Interviewer: I shouldn't have been so quick to laugh, I apologize.
Dr. Madsen: It does sound so clichÈ that it's Christmas morning, you're opening gifts and you get injuries from that. But occasionally, you do see stuff like that. Later in the day, there's sometimes kind of the overeating stuff, people with some belly pain or just feeling a little bit uncomfortable. Again, maybe not such a big deal on Christmas but sometimes you get that. But like I said, it's really typically a very slow day in the ER and I'm probably going to jinx myself now by saying that because I'm working Christmas Day.
Interviewer: Here, quick, jingle these bells.
Dr. Madsen: Yeah, exactly.
Interviewer: Instead of knock on wood, you can jingle some bells.
Dr. Madsen: Yeah, exactly. But it is a day when people come to the ER, it's usually serious stuff and heart attacks, asthma problems, maybe a car accident as they're driving somewhere, things like that.
Interviewer: Do you guys celebrate Christmas at all in the ER? Is there a picture of Santa Claus up or Christmas cards around anywhere? I mean, do you decorate?
Dr. Madsen: Christmas in the ER there are usually some decorations up. I can't say that Santa has ever come to the ER. But usually, everyone will bring food in and kind of have a potluck dinner or potluck lunch in the ER, something like that.
Interviewer: That sounds kind of cool. I suppose there's a lot of camaraderie in there anyway and then when you're all working on a holiday even more so probably.
Dr. Madsen: Yeah, exactly. Like I said, it's usually slower days so you usually have some more time to get everyone together and have some food together. So it's not everyone's favorite place to be on on Christmas Day, but like you said, there's a lot of camaraderie there, people there. we're kind of in the same boat together just enjoying it together.
Interviewer: What do you bring to the potluck?
Dr. Madsen: What do I bring to the potluck?
Interviewer: Yeah, what's the Troy Madsen special Christmas dish?
Dr. Madsen: See, I am a horrible cook so usually anything I bring is going to be like already prepared food, usually a bag of chips or something like that.
Interviewer: Come on.
Dr. Madsen: I'm sorry to admit that but it's the truth. I don't really cook well, so it's usually what it is.
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