Support Services
Stanford University Medical Center has excellent support services for patient care, minimizing the need for residents to engage in patient care activities of limited educational value. Both hospitals have blood drawing teams, blood gas technicians, patient transport services, etc., to perform the tasks which do not require the skills of a physician. Nurses routinely start IV’s. Residents dictate all notes except routine progress notes, making it unnecessary to write extensive notes long-hand. These services are also available at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital. The support of eight full-time nurse practitioners and nurse coordinators affiliated with the Neurosurgery Service at SUMC and LSPCH also considerably reduces the residents’ workload. Each of the hospitals has cafeteria and canteen services for residents on call. If residents are required to stay in-house, Stanford Hospital supplies a meal allowance. Palo Alto Veterans Hospital also provides meals for residents required to spend the night in-house.
