Madeline called Mitch to her office. She explained that she had
asked Rita for her utilization review reports on NICU admis
sions over the past six months. Mitch searched in his pocket for
a paper clip. He didn’t like where this was going. He remained
standing in front of her desk.
“Mitchell, I saw nothing of concern in this report.”
He breathed a sigh of relief.
“At least initially. I think you should take a little vacation, a
leave, if you will, until we get this all sorted out.”
“Get what all sorted out?”
“I’ve made an appointment to meet with the CEO of Metro
General to review the NICU numbers, triage numbers, and your
deliveries specifically.”
“Madeline, I’m just doing my job. Administration likes it
when patient numbers are up, especially in the NICU. And I’m
here to deliver for them.” Mitch smirked. “No pun intended.”
Madeline frowned at him.
“Seriously, isn’t that what we’re supposed to be doing,
Madeline? Finding revenue for the hospital? That’s what all our
meetings are about. Revenue.”
“Not through artificial means. That’s what has been brought
to my attention and what I’m investigating. I think you should
plan on at least two weeks. Maybe more, depending on how
things unfold, and depending on whether we can stop this run
away train that you’ve put into motion.”
220
JULIE HATCH
“Sure, two weeks off sounds great to me.” He shut the door
behind him with a bang. Who told her to look at my numbers?
He knocked on Charlie Buckley’s door and asked to come in.
Once he told him what had just transpired with Madeline Cross,
Charlie called Rita to join them.
“What are we going to do for the next two weeks, Mitch?
What’s going to happen to our numbers?” a panicky Rita asked.
“What am I supposed to do when the NICU numbers drop off?”
“Relax, Rita,” said Charlie.
Mitch knew that Charlie had Rita under control. She col
lected numbers, and when the numbers fell, she reported them
to Charlie. That was her job. Mitch also knew how proud Rita
was to carry her supervisor title. As long as she kept track of the
numbers, Mitch and Charlie were happy to indulge her in what
ever title she wanted.
On his way down the hall, Mitch paged Amanda and asked her
to meet him in the hospital lobby. He explained to her that he
was taking a break—he wouldn’t be at work for a couple of weeks.
Amanda was at first surprised, then suspicious. “Why? Where
are you going? I’ll come with you—I’ve got a little vacation time
coming to me.”
Mitch grumbled, “I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying in the
city.” As he thought about it, he didn’t want Amanda to know
that he was under suspicion. “We can enjoy some of this time
together. I’ll call you tomorrow, and we’ll plan a night out. But,
right now, you have to take over for me. Charlie and Rita are
counting on it.”
“No problem.”
Mitch smiled. “That’s my girl.”
Amanda kissed Mitch, then turned to go back to triage. Mitch
walked through the hospital doors, out into the noise and bustle
of the city. He was forced out, told to leave the place where he
221
THE VERY BEST OF CARE
was happiest—where he was in control and where all problems
had a solution. The hospital was a place of safety and security for
him. And, he admitted, a place that fed his ego. How did this
happen? Why was he, of all people, the one told to take a leave?
