Page 74 of The Love Operation

I brace. “Why?”

“Bastards changed our block time. Effective immediately.” Her face reddens, and her accent is a little thicker, something that always happens when she gets upset.

I scramble for my phone and pull up my work email.

Subject: OR Block Schedule Update—Effective Immediately

I glance up at Dahlia. She crosses her arms and scowls.

My eyes snap back to my phone.

Dear Dr. Wren,

As part of an ongoing initiative to optimize surgical efficiency and balance resource allocation, we have made adjustments to block scheduling across all surgical departments. These changes were implemented to streamline case distribution and ensure equitable OR access among providers.

Effective immediately, your assigned block time has been moved to Tuesdays and Fridays, 2 PM-10 PM. Your Thursday OR time is unchanged. This decision is in line with our department-wide efforts to maximize productivity and alleviate the current backlog.

We understand that schedule modifications can be disruptive, and we appreciate your flexibility in adapting to this new structure. To help mitigate inconvenience, all currently scheduled surgeries will proceed at your previous block time.

Please reach out with any concerns, and we will do our best to accommodate.

Best,

Russell Vaughn, MD

Chief of Surgery

Lockewood University Medical Center

“No,” I say, finishing the ridiculous email.

Dahlia throws her hands on her hips. “Optimizing my ass! This is deliberate and targeted.”

“It’s Shephard. I know it. He wants to make me look like a prima donna, like I’m only a team player if I’m getting my way. You should’ve heard him at the meeting when I suggested we evenly distribute peak block time. He basically said I was being a hypocrite for having the ‘priority slots’ I have, as if I wouldn’t actually give anything up.”

“That is outrageously petty,” she says. “And it doesn’t even make sense! This isn’t you sharing the good slots, it’s you getting the worst slots. What are you going to do?”

“I’m emailing Vaughn right now.”

My internal organs combust as I feverishly type a reply.

Subject: Re: OR Block Schedule Update—Effective Immediately

Dr. Vaughn,

I understand the need for surgical efficiency, but such a significant shift in my schedule seems misaligned with both patient care needs and my case volume.

I’d appreciate insight into the decision-making process behind these adjustments. Were these changes reviewed at the administrative level?

Best,

Cordelia Wren, MD

Orthopedic Spine Surgeon

Lockewood University Medical Center

“I will fix this,” I promise, as soon as I’ve sent the reply.