I have been cycling through paperwork for my new residency over the past few days. The packet contains a mix of poorly photocopied forms, some of which is either illegible or completely cut off. The hospital also graciously included a photocopied Chase Bank flyer dated 2004, which offered $200 for opening a checking account. I called the graduate admissions office (GME) later to clarify some issues:

Me: Hi, I’m starting residency at XXX next month, and I’ve got some questions about some of the forms I received from your office.

GME guy: You need to call YYY.

Me: The forms came from your office, one of them is a verification of medical school training. I’m not…

GME guy: (cuts me off) And?

Me: I’m not in town, and I was going to fax in the form to the Registrar’s office to be stamped. Do you accept faxed signatures?

GME guy: It depends if you sign it. Up to you.

Me: It goes to your office! Ok, I’ll fax it over. I’ve another question: what time and where do I show up for the orientation in June? The forms don’t say.

GME guy: We don’t do orientation.

Me: The form says “Please show up to Occupational Health on time”, but it doesn’t say when and where.

GME guy: This is OHS. You said orientation, confusing me.

Me: (I was getting really pissed off at this point) Yea, OHS. Where do I show up?

GME guy: <paused for 10 secs> You got the green sheet? Read the top.

Me: <looking at the green sheet> It says ..ving Pavilion, and no address.

GME guy: Yup, call the number at the top for info. Irving Pavilion.

<click>

Apparently the address for Irving Pavilion was completely cut off the top of the page. If I didn’t already know where the buildings on campus were, I’d have no idea where to find it.

Ah yes. And now I am reminded why I left NYC…

medicine humor, rant