The Daily Schedule Of A Dermatologist

Any patients that are admitted for a dermatologist in the hospital are seen on a daily basis. Emergency cases such as Steven-Johnson syndrome (SJS), which is a severe skin rash that can resemble 2nd degree burns and caused by an allergic reaction to medication most of the time, are managed by dermatologists.

A dermatologist can also see patients in hospital if another colleague asks them for an opinion on one of their patients. On weekends, all hospital patients that were admitted for the dermatologists will be seen and managed further by the specialist who is on call for the hospital. 

Monday

A dermatologist will use Mondays in order to organize their week. Aspects such as patients' appointments, meetings, academic responsibilities and surgical/procedural days need to be confirmed and finalised. Thereafter, patients will be consulted and depending on the pathology diagnosed, the patient will be treated accordingly.

If a patient needs a small procedure done, then it will be performed in the nearby procedure room of the dermatologist's office. If a patient needs a more extensive procedure to be performed on them or if they require to be put under a general anaesthetic, then that patient will need to be booked for surgery on an appropriate surgical day. 

Tuesday

This day will usually be reserved for either procedures, as mentioned above, to be done in the office or at a day-surgery clinic on patients who have been consulted with previously and who have a date booked for a procedure to be done. The specialist's prerogative may also be to consult with patients on this day.

Wednesday

This day will be used to consult with patients, just as is done on a Monday, with small procedures being done in the procedure room. The afternoon may be utilized for academic training of under- and postgraduates, if the doctor is involved with the academic setup of the department.

If they are in private practice, this time may be used for further research, analysis of tissue samples, completing clinical notes and prescriptions or filling in motivation letters for medical insurance companies.

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Thursday

This day can be used to consult with patients and/or perform bigger surgical procedures at the day-surgery clinic. All investigations are followed up and patients have their results discussed with them.

The dermatologist will discuss further treatment options with patients depending on their results, and follow up appointments will be made.

Friday

Final administrative issues are finalised and the dermatologist will also consult with patients again. A dermatologist can be on-call for a hospital and most of the time they will be consulted over the phone with management of a condition being dealt with telephonically. In the case that a patient is diagnosed with SJS, the doctor will come out to see the patient in the ward.