Human Kindness -v- Corporate Greed

I recently declined a week’s work at an oil-company hospital in the former Soviet Union. The exercise involved in mulling over this request was useful in framing my general philosophy these days about work in general, and tasks like this in particular. My response went something like this:-

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to deliberate over going out to Kazakhstan.

It has been a useful exercise for me, partly due to my interest in the organization of biomedical engineering services, and, indeed, equipment databases, but also as a chance to consider and re-evaluate my position in case of any future invitation to participate in the type of venture you describe.

Needless to say, twenty years ago, younger and more eager (not to mention more gullible and probably naïve), I would have leapt at it. But that was then, not now. These days I am a grey-bearded pipe-smoker (metaphorically, at least).

So following a good deal of thought over the last couple of days, let me advise you now that I do not plan to make myself available to travel to Tengiz.

You may wonder about my reasons. Well, they are many and complex, and I do not intend to go into them in any great detail here. Suffice to say, however, that for me, the “personal equation” does not balance. I am not greatly motivated by money, but remain much more interested in doing a decent job to my own standards for people in need of help (in a healthcare setting, that is). I doubt that any oil company meets that last criteria, and it sounds like I may not be afforded a chance to meet the former.

Frankly, I have little interest (none at all, actually) in the expectations of your clients, who (if I know anything at all about situations like this - and I probably know more than you may imagine), I would probably find to be hostile in any case. It’s very unlikely that they’re going to be overly impressed with someone like me. There will be people like that out there, believe me, and I shall be a long way from home!

I tend to recoil from situations where I am expected to “make it fit” for purely commercial reasons. My personal modus operandi is diagonally opposed to this, in actual fact, in that I am happy to work for expenses only when the circumstances are right (to me). Generally, I work at low rates of pay at jobs that I enjoy. In situations like that, expectations are easily met, and there is happiness, joy and gratitude all around! A volunteer, then, rather than a mercenary.

No, for me the pros (not the money, but simply another adventure) no way balance the cons in this case (there would appear to be many). I prefer also to act (alone, usually) with as much self-sufficiency as possible, and am not happy to place myself in any situation where I am venturing into the unknown totally dependent on what we may call “the kindness of strangers”. That sounds to me like “foolhardy” - out of control - not my way at all.

One final piece of advice I could offer would have to be, that in order to attract people (mercenaries?) of the required calibre, you might like to think about raising your daily rate. But I stress, that even for an increased amount, I personally would not be willing to travel out to Tengiz!

Hoping that you are able to find others willing to have a go.

The Biomed Boot Camp

Motivation flagging somewhat? Are you feeling isolated, and unappreciated? Have you given up caring? Perhaps, then, you need to consider re-charging your batteries by having a go at the “Biomed Boot Camp”! I'm wondering whether there's enough here to lay down the foundations of a book. Topics covered may include (and others may be added by popular request):-

1) How, and when, to be assertive (eg, how to deal with the likes of Nurse Diesel).

2) How to work more-or-less continuously (ie, by pacing yourself and taking short breaks).

3) How, and when, to “go the extra mile”.

4) How to decide when, and how much, goodwill jobs are appropriate.

5) How to adopt, and carry through, the “biomed mind-set”.

6) How to take ownership of each job you accept, and techniques for seeing it through to completion.

7) How to maintain high standards even when working alone, and in isolation.

8) How to instil “pride of ownership” in the hearts and minds of equipment users.

9) How to be into “tech” on a total lifestyle basis.

10) How to maintain the moral high ground when others have already “fled the field”.

11) How to behave ethically in the presence of patients (ie, be human, but sometimes there’s a lot to be said for not saying a lot)!

12) How to be content with earning “just enough to keep going”.

13) How to appear competent even when you have not seen a piece of kit before.

14) How to find the patience to carry on preaching to users the message of good equipment management.

15) How to improvise when the preferred tools and test equipment are not available.

16) How to avoid becoming a victim (eg, of abuse, violence or infection).

17) How to remain humble when you are the most qualified, or experienced, man in the room.

18) How to focus on the sick and needy when you are not feeling so good yourself.

19) How to survive on hospital food.

20) How to repair equipment only with materials available in the local market.

21) How to stay motivated when surrounded by incompetence, rudeness and sheer idiocy.

22) How to prevail in depressing environments.

23) How to maintain high technical standards when confronted by the low quality work or others.

24) How to insist upon removing the covers of every piece of new equipment encountered (ie, in order to have a look inside)!

25) How to avoid being hassled into rushing, whilst still working efficiently and effectively.

26) How to motivate yourself to work out-of-hours when others are goofing off.

27) How to forget your worries by immersing yourself in your work.