Gen grabbed the chart. With no insurance and the ultrasound coming back negative, she’d need approval to run the cardiac enzymes test. She fell in step with Dr. Ward, who was barking at a nurse for existing on the same planet.
“I need bed three.”
“I know. Dr. Ward, I want to run one final test on her for cardiac enzymes.”
“Why?”
“She’s having abdomen issues and the ultrasound came back clean.”
“Then why the hell would you run another test? Send her home.”
“I think it’s her heart.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, give me the chart.” He stopped, glancing through. “She has no insurance. Send her home.”
Stubbornness hit her. “I’m asking you to look at her.”
The gleam of hatred that sprung from his eyes made her take a step back. “Seeing things that aren’t there, Doctor? We don’t have time for babysitting in the ER. You better not be wasting my time.”
He followed her, pulling back the curtain and turning into Dr. Charm. “Hello, Susan, I’m Dr. Ward. Your ultrasound came back fine. Did you eat anything strange last night that could have contributed to your stomach problems?”
“Chinese.”
“Hmm, lots of salt intake.” He shot Gen a glare and knew he’d just ruled out her swollen ankles. “How about stress? Anything going on that’s unusual?”
Susan laughed. “I was just telling Genevieve my daughter’s getting married and we were on the phone for an hour last night, arguing over the guest list. My goodness, by the time the wedding comes I don’t know how I’ll survive.”
“Weddings are wonderful but stressful events. Did you take antacids?”
“Yes, just Tums though.”
“Hmm. Well, the good news is you’re fine. We’ll set you up with Prilosec and make sure you eat bland for a while. No Chinese.”
“Thanks, Doctor.”
“Welcome.”
Gen followed him out. “Dr. Ward, I think—”
He whipped around and jabbed a finger at her. “I don’t care what you think. Do your damn job and stop wasting hospital resources on ridiculous tests for patients with no insurance. Another incident like that and I’ll throw you out of my ER. Understood?”
He marched off. Frustration shot through her. Dammit, in a way she didn’t blame him. In another way, her gut was screaming that there was something bigger going on, and if she sent Susan away she’d regret it.
In medical school, there was so much information to absorb her brain was constantly on overload. But she’d always felt she had good instincts. If she listened and looked beyond the surface facts, letting the individual and the body guide her, she discovered things that routine exams or logic didn’t. She used to pride herself on such an ability until David. Over the past two years, he had showed her to trust the evidence only. The tests were God; the facts were survival. Gut instincts in a surgeon only led to chaos, and death.
So she’d changed. Smothered the voices and primitive instincts that she used to respect.
Today she made a different choice.
She swallowed hard and went back to her patient. “Susan, if you don’t mind, there’s just one test I’d like to run before we release you. I think it’s important.”
“Oh, okay. It’s probably more restful here than at home anyway.”
“Thanks. I’ll have a nurse come by shortly.”
Her hands barely shook as she ordered the cardiac enzymes test from the lab. “I need a signature on this one,” Ted said gruffly.
She didn’t miss a beat. “David—er, Dr. Riscetti approved.” Ted let out an annoyed huff and punched out the number. He spoke briefly, then looked up. “He wants to know if you asked Dr. Ward.”
The lie fell easily from her lips. “Of course, but he’s busy right now.” Ted repeated her words, nodded, and clicked off. “We’ll run it.”
“Thanks. Can you put a rush on it? We need the space.”
Her heart pounded, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like she’d done the right thing. Gen ran back to her other patients, checking the time and hoping she’d get the results back before things blew up. But maybe she’d get lucky. Maybe Ward was so crazed he’d miss the extra test she ordered and things would work out. Maybe—
“Why the hell is bed three still not empty?”
She ducked her head and pretended to be busy doing something vitally important so she couldn’t respond. “She’s almost ready, sir.”
“She was ready twenty minutes ago. What’s going on?”
Sweat dampened her brow. Crap, this was bad. “Umm, I’m just running one more test, which should be done shortly.”
He blocked her path. Fury rumbled from him. “What test?”
“The cardiac enzymes, sir.”
His voice dropped. “I told you to release her. Who signed off on the test?”
She paused and wished she could lie. “Dr. Riscetti.”
Ward gritted his teeth. “I don’t care if you’re screwing him on your personal time, but don’t think you can run my show here.” He grabbed his phone and pounded out numbers. “David, why the hell did you give approval on the tro-ponins when I specifically denied it?”
Gen closed her eyes. It was over.
“I see. Yes. You better get down here now.”
Ward narrowed his gaze. “Go wait in the conference area for your boss. And get out of my ER.”