Treading water

Auer talks about her life as a cancer surgeon. She is responsible for helping guide patients across the cancer journey, from diagnosis, through cancer staging, surgical resection, postoperative care, and finally to another oncologist for additional treatments or on to a survivorship program. A page from the laboratory with a critical blood result during movie night, a call from the radiologist because of a concerning finding on the CT scan during a soccer game, a text message about a postoperative patient with a fever right before the piano recital: all these mean that she must stop what she is doing. The electronic medical record is linked to her iPhone so it can buzz her directly when a new patient result is available or another health care provider has a question. Even her Apple Watch can tap her on the wrist with an important clinical message.