Loss of motivation and frustration for visitor surgeons in provincial health centers or psychiatric hospitals in Greece

Abstract

Introduction

The core workplace for a surgeon is the operating theatre. Secondary duties may include visits to small health centers for outpatient examinations and visitor work to psychiatric hospitals.

Objective

The objective of our study is to highlight the mistakes of management that lead to half-empty provincial health centers and psychiatric hospitals.

Methods

Presentation of the 2-year-experience of a surgeon visitor in provincial health centers and in a large psychiatric hospital in Greece.

Results

The provincial health center of Lagada needs at least 4 surgeons to serve; too many patients to be examined or/and operated in 2–3 hours only. Subsequently problems arise, as simultaneously in the emergencies department a surgical eye for an abdominal pain or a bad looking leg is needed every 15 minutes. The health center of Koufalia needs 3 hours of driving per day for 3–8 surgical patients only. The psychiatric hospital offered work for 3 surgeons 5 days a week for a long period of time. During 2012–2014, only one surgeon visited the hospital once a week. The work needed to be done may kill the surgeon or force him to receive antidepressants in order to keep his functions alive.

Conclusions

Not a hint of scientific motivation for two years is a strong reason for a surgeon to avoid the duty to provincial health centers and psychiatric hospitals which is obligatory according to our national health system Laws until two years are completed for newly appointed surgeons. Managers might encourage surgeons if some balancing convenience was offered.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.