Cole looked at the unopened medication cup. “Keep holding that dose while I reassess the plan.” He pulled out his phone. “Get cardiology back up here and pull the actual emergency department images, not just the report.”
Avery sat back down beside Daniel. The thing that made her look lazy had just made six doctors look again.
Cole’s call brought cardiology back upstairs before Avery finished documenting the held medication. Dr. Melissa Grant entered with two residents and pulled Daniel’s chart onto the bedside screen. Six physician names were already attached to the case. Emergency medicine, Cardiology, admissions. Six doctors had examined some part of Daniel’s morning. His pressure was still falling, and none of them had explained why.
Grant repeated the pressures herself. The difference between his arms remained. “It matters,” she said. “It doesn’t tell us why.”
Daniel’s pressure dropped again. Grant kept the medication on hold and considered a cautious fluid bolus while Cole reviewed the labs. Avery watched Daniel instead. His breathing remained guarded. His skin was pale. Karen caught her looking. “What is it?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Avery turned to Cole. “Before we start anything, I want one bedside circulation check.”
Grant looked over. “For what?”
Avery told her what she wanted compared. Grant glanced at the clock. “We have an unstable patient. We can’t stop every step to chase possibilities.”
“Agreed.” Avery picked up the fluid line but didn’t connect it. “So don’t chase mine. Check him.”
