When a case takes an unexpected turn, it’s reassuring to know there are other experienced professionals around who you can call on for emergency consults. It’s even more reassuring to know your colleague will do whatever it takes to get to you and your patient ASAP, and you know this because she’s also your wife.
Anesthesiologists Back Hong, MD, and Kea Hong, MD, spent nearly 35 years practicing at a major hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After retiring from their full-time positions, they each agreed to a locum tenens opportunity at a small-town hospital in the Midwest.
Typically, the Hongs worked different shifts, so it wasn’t unusual for one of them to take the rental car they shared while the other stayed in their temporary apartment. That was the case on the day when Back was scheduled for a colectomy. What started off as a routine procedure suddenly became critical.
“I didn’t expect anything to happen,” he recalls. “But the patient crashed during the surgery and I had to put in a central line.”
Immediately, Back called the person who he knew would understand the critical nature of the situation and with whose skills and experience he was familiar…his wife.
From what her husband expressed over the phone, Kea realized she needed to get to the hospital STAT! There was just one complication—she had no transportation to make the 10-minute commute. Nor was there time to wait for a taxi.
“When she arrived at the hospital in less than 15 minutes, I was so surprised,” says Back. It wasn’t until later that he heard about the friendly passerby who gave Kea a ride.
The couple worked together to stabilize the patient. “Usually, these cases would be transported to a bigger hospital,” says Back. “The staff was so surprised that we were able to respond the way we did.”
By experiencing this stage of their lives and careers together, the Hongs know they will always have a backup, not only in each other, but also with their team at Weatherby Healthcare.
You, too, can make a difference in patients’ lives. Take a look at Weatherby Healthcare’s locum tenens opportunities across the country.
