Hospital Joins Airbnb, Rents Out Call Rooms
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Hospital Joins Airbnb, Rents Out Call Rooms
In an attempt to increase revenue and meet the growing tourism needs of the city, Hospital Woeisme has joined Airbnb and is now renting out their call rooms. According to hospital CEO Dr. Koopa, the move is both innovative and resourceful. “Tourists today are constantly looking for new and immersive experiences. What could be more exciting than experiencing the life of a resident physician?”
When visiting the website, Airbnb rooms at Hospital Woeisme are described as: Cramped, windowless rooms containing a single bed with flimsy mattress, a ratty blanket, and itchy, stiff sheets. Nearby, there are shared bathrooms that may or may not be climate controlled. Each room features an archaic landline phone, a computer that hums loudly, and uniformly dim overhead lighting.
When asked about the traditional use of the rooms, which is a haven for residents taking in-house call, he said, “We don't expect out residents to sleep, so they shouldn’t be using those rooms anyway.” Changing the subject, he added, “For an additional fee, the overnight guests can take a tour of the ED or witness the exciting world of medical students being yelled at on rounds. There is also an agreement with the new Ambulance Ride-share app ROSC, which makes it even easier for these Airbnb’ers to get around.”
The recent visitor Mr. Rubbernecker raved, “Seeing those residents up close- wow! It was like being in a zoo and seeing the local wildlife in their natural habitat.” Another recent visitor commented, “I had no idea how small, shitty, and prison-like the resident call rooms could be. I have such a greater respect for those trainees now.”
Most residents have expressed consternation that their call rooms have been rented out. Dr. Gin from the Ob-gyn department griped, “How am I supposed to sleep on a 48-hour call? People are having babies at all hours of the night and now I’ve got to take naps in my car like a homeless person!”
The ED residents were the only residents who seemed not to have noticed that random people were sleeping in their call room. Most remarked, “We have a call room? Is that the room where we store our bikes?”*
At the end of the interview Dr. Koopa said that many other hospitals have already contacted him to share that they plan to join Airbnb too. “Real estate is such a lucrative venture I’m not at all surprised that so many other hospitals plan to join.”
*Throughout my EM residency I never once saw the ED call room nor do I know where it was located. The ED residents that rode their bikes to work did indeed stores their bikes in there during shifts.
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