Phase Three

By Doug Elwood

Dr. Mike Sanders stands over a patient, syringe ready. The medication he is about to give will change the course of medicine. There's only one problem: the patient doesn't know he's there! In what is potentially a patient's worse nightmare, Dr. Sanders is conducting a phase three trial on unwitting patients in the hospital testing a new medication.

A young resident with dreams of helping patients on a global scale, Dr. Sanders finds himself ensnared in a situation that quickly begins to spiral out of control. The approach seems simple, the idea is genius, and the result will be infamy. But when things start to go wrong, will he be able to unravel the mistakes and succeed, or will he end up a victim of his own aspirations?

Phase Three is a medical thriller that dives into the daily activity of a hospital and explores the holes that exist in everyday care, and the ways they are exploited. It is the story of a young man with lofty goals and dreams, but who is also enchanted by a young woman with her own agenda.

In the setting of a public hospital in New York City, Phase Three is a captivating thriller that will keep readers fully engaged. It will also make you think twice the next time you enter a hospital!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Doug Elwood
• Release date: Apr 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458017987

Doug Elwood

Dr. Douglas Elwood has been involved in a number of ventures involving technology and targeted consumer efforts. Most recently, he co-founded a company focused on utilizing technology (specifically smartphones and tablets) to improve the delivery of health and to close the current gaps for both physicians and patients. His company, Zibbel, was featured in two different PWC report on mobile health called Healthcare Unwired and Gold Rush and he engineered partnerships with both pharma and one of the top medical centers in the country. He also founded a company in the midst of the Internet boom in the late ’90s to provide information and resources to parents and college students, eventually partnering with over 1,000 merchants along the east coast in 14 different college towns. Doug is a board-certified physician who is on faculty at NYU Langone Medical Center and completed an MD/MBA in Philadelphia. He recently spearheaded a project at NYU to assess the efficacy of using iPads for resident and patient education, becoming one of the first programs in the country to do so. He also was involved in several grants to examine using smartphones and iPads as real-time data collectors to promote enhanced educational approaches. As a medical resident, Doug was well published in the areas of clinical research, education, and patient satisfaction and integral in revamping many of his department’s operational approaches. Most recently, he had two articles published in peer-reviewed journals, one on medical education and one on patient satisfaction. He also recently co-authored an article on personalized medicine. He also worked for a short time for a communications company where he became acquainted with using multiple outlets to promote better understanding of what an organization does and how that interplays with reputation and business success. Doug graduated from Amherst College as an English major and studied abroad in Dublin to follow in the footsteps of James Joyce, ultimately writing his thesis on Joyce’s novels. He is the co-founder of www.mhealth360.com and has had several articles featured on major outlets. Doug is the proud father of two young boys and is in the process of using technology to start other companies including one he founded with his wife that is designed to change the reading experience for children using the iPad and Smartphones, making it a more interactive experience. Doug wrote this book, Phase Three, while in residency, almost 100% while he was on call during the night between 2-6am, when his mind was not entirely clear!

Book preview

Phase Three

by

Doug Elwood

Smashwords Edition

* * * * *

Phase Three

Copyright 2008 by Doug Elwood

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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Table of Contents

Part One: The Vision

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Part Two: The Chase

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Part Three: The Termination

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Part One: The Vision

Chapter 1

* * * *

His heart was pounding. The room was dark save for the light that emanated from the outside hallway. The patient lay below him, sleeping soundly. It wasn’t the first time nor it would it be the last but the rush he got every time was both exhilarating and terrifying. He found the IV port hanging limply from the man’s arm and deftly loosened it from his gown. Only one patient had woken up on him so far and that he handled easily without hesitation or doubt. He was always ready for this potential complication but nonetheless feared it. He stood there another few seconds staring at the IV tip and thinking only of the quick action he was about to take. And then it would be done.

He took out the alcohol packet and tore it, being careful to discard the torn piece in his breast pocket rather than on the floor. He cleaned the tip of the IV with the swab and placed it in his pocket as well. With the same motion he was holding the syringe in his hand and moving it with purposeful ease toward the port. He connected the two, turning the syringe to lock it into place, and pushed slowly but firmly with his thumb. He watched the fluid flow through and smiled. He used to think this was amazing, the ability to give patients medication through their veins so simply; now he saw it only as an entry point, as the doorway to the future.

Done, he unlocked the syringe and added it to his pocket. He looked at the man sleeping below him oblivious to his actions and again smiled. No one walking by the room would be able to see him. The patient himself if he had woken up would in fact barely be able to make out his figure. The green scrubs he wore faded neatly into the darkness of the room and the curtain half-pulled provided him with ample camouflage. The only hint that he was there was the slight glimmer that shot off his glasses every now and then, if the light from the hall caught them just right. But no one had ever seen him standing over a patient’s bed like this. And if they had most likely no one would have even cared. He often thought this was the best part of the whole arrangement: the absolute authority he had in saying that he belonged there. No nurse or patient could accuse him of anything but mistaking one patient for another. He had played the scenario hundreds of times in his head and had an answer for everything.

Tonight he wouldn’t need an answer. Tonight was smooth. He was on his last of ten patients and was done. He checked the bed again to ensure he hadn’t left anything and walked out. Squinting as he entered the drab light of the hallway he turned both ways to see if any nurses were around, then walked down the hall to the staircase leaving the floor and all trace of his presence there. Another successful night.

Chapter 2

The conference room was already too crowded and yet more continued to enter.

What, is the Dali Lama coming today? Sarah Weedler, an associate at Mostley and Brewer, turned to her coworker as she spoke, making sure that he knew she was displeased.

Yeah, the Dali Lami of health care. Robert, or Bob as everyone called him, ignored her stare and watched as the other employees and some guests all flowed in.

You’d think he was the next coming of Christ, Sarah spat as she continued her focus on him but turning to position herself better so that only he heard her. He’s been washed up for years. He’s done in this business.

Bob grunted his acknowledgment of her remark though they both knew that she worshiped the man about to enter the room to speak. In fact, Sarah had visited Dr. Ralph Buttress just six months previously to discuss her future career options. Dr. Buttress had worked at Mostley and Brewer for years, building the small investment agency, growing it into a legitimate Wall Street contender, and then quickly moving onto other, larger projects. He still held a considerable stake in the firm but also worked with multiple health care systems, insurance companies, the Department of Health, and NIH. In many ways, he had single-handedly pioneered the advent of information technology in health care on a grand scale and facilitated the growth of medical business as an artform. He had under his tutelage at any given time dozens of CEOs of all industries who continually turned to him for advice on how to succeed. The fact that he was a physician propelled him to even more prominent status, since he held great power within the medical community and made changes that others before him had deemed impossible.

While all of this was impressive, the fact that Dr. Buttress’ reputation had diminished was indisputable. Rumors were slowly starting to flow that the good old physician as he had come to be known in some circles, was losing his grip on his kingdom of influence. And everyone close to him was more than happy to spread this news to anyone who would listen. They did not detest the man as much as they feared him and fear often turns to hatred, especially if signs of weakness surface.

Sarah was nervous to see him. She shuffled in her seat and finally turned her gaze away from Bob, sensing he wasn’t listening anymore. Her eyes floated to the window and she looked out at the buildings that seemed to peer back at her. She was on the top of a 34-story edifice and yet nearly every structure around seemed larger, more impressive. The conference room was vast and the windows immense, providing clear views out over Third Avenue. She could see the top of Grand Central Station, the Chrysler Building, and of course the Empire State Building. She always loved staring at the mountains of skyscrapers and reveled in the thought that she was part of this machine and could someday conquer it. Every piece of the colossal landscape she deemed to be part of the fabric of the city. And this was her city, and thus her landscape. And she would conquer it.

Bob elbowed her in the arm, Hey, he said. He’s here.

The room had become quiet and the confusion had quelled to a silent commotion as those without chairs stood awkwardly against the walls and those with seats leaned in to provide more space. She took a deep breath and turned just in time to see him enter. He wore a suit that seemed to complement his hair: a dark gray tinged with silver. His mahogany tie made his chest appear large and sturdy and his blue eyes shot a confidence that was challenging and reproachful. He placed his briefcase down and sat to begin his speech. He discussed the marketplace and new trends for health care touching on potential opportunities with venture capital, but Sarah did not listen to a word. All she could think about was the meeting that was planned for later that night and the update that she would give on their project. The smile that she hid shone clearly in her eyes and he saw it during the speech. Clearly, and without question, he saw her quiet smile. And he answered with his own.

Chapter 3

Nights like this one were hard to come by, the weather was perfect and the streets quiet. Mike stood outside the hospital in shorts and a tee-shirt stretching. Next to his iPod on his shorts flapped his pager, set on high so he could hear it even above the rhythm in his earphones. He was technically on call but at this time of night he was basically free to do whatever he wanted. And while other residents would sleep through the night given the opportunity, he took advantage by going for his daily run.

Though he always exercised on his call nights, his excitement over the past few months fueled him to go harder and farther than ever before. His energy was overflowing tonight since he had just come from injecting five more patients and had not been challenged. Not once. The whole thing was just so easy. As long as he was careful and ready no one would ever know. Yes, this abundant vigor stemmed from a deep satisfaction of the way the project was progressing and he could see no end to its source.

He crossed First Avenue and started out on a light trot, glancing at the entrance to the hospital just to be sure no residents were lingering on break from the emergency room or getting a smoke after being in the operating room. He started south, directly facing the long brash side of the UN building in profile. The moon was high overhead and tonight was nearly full, casting a shadow that extended far over the river that flowed roughly just a block to the east. Though the music was thumping in his ears his mind was as clear as the night's air and thoughts came incessantly. The past few months had been like no other in his life and he absorbing all they had to offer.

A taxi passed him on 38th and First as he was turning to head west, the driver slowing for a moment to ensure that he was not missing a potential fare and then accelerating away with a look of scorn. Each night he took a new route but always in the same general direction and always in the same general loop. Tonight, he was going to run further than he ever had and hoped to do it in record pace, with the light-weight of his legs already providing him the necessary confidence that he would accomplish this task. And why not? He had completed everything else assigned to him thus far without incident and with his own flare.

He crossed onto Third Avenue and turned south again, now running near his top speed and breathing deeply the night air that seemed to carry him along