Outside Hospital

If you've done any clinicals at any of AUC's clinical sites, this should give you a good laugh!

Happy Birthday to me!

Yes, today is my birthday! I am officially 28, and I feel a bit old. But, 28 means almost 29, and I figured long ago that I will be 29 when I become a doctor! Putting two and two together, only 1 more year until I'm a doctor! I just with I knew what I'd be doing and where I'd be doing it, but that will have to wait. Actually, less than a year before I find that out (slightly).

Since the last time I wrote, I've set up 3 electives. I finish 3rd year cores in June. July is dedicated to Step 2 studying. Then, for August, September, and October, I'll be doing emergency medicine, anesthesia, and radiholiday, in that order (1 month each). I'm pretty excited about all three of these rotations. Unfortunately, I still have to fit in neuro and family practice, two months that I AM NOT looking forward to. I'm also looking at the possibility of doing my electives at other hospitals in the area (the three I have so far are all at St. Agnes), so things could change. But, if nothing else, I've got things planned out through November. This makes me feel much more at ease; at least I'm headed towards graduation!

For now though, I've gotta change out of scrubs and get ready for birthday dinner at The Charthouse. Have I mentioned I love scrubs? Well...I do. That alone, could make surgery my favorite rotation.

funny because it's true

Fortunately, stuff like this does not happen every day and is probably the exception to the rule. But, sadly, with certain attendings, you wouldn't believe how accurate this is! Enjoy!

Even more congrats!!

Again, to my two favorite bloggers, who both did very well in the match, but also to everyone else that found out where they're going today! Of course the people who didn't do well likely keep quiet, but so far I've heard lots of very exciting news from people! Categorical surgery spots, pre matched anesthesiology, radiology, EM, and lots of first or second choices! AUC is behind you now, and I can't wait to be there this time next year!

Richard Dawkins: the greatest show on earth

Congrats!

To my two favorite bloggers and everyone else who matched today!!!


-- Post From My iPhone

end of the weekend post

Unfortunately, I did little exciting this weekend. I did finish registering for Step 2 though!! It's still a few months away (end of July), but I'm already a bit nervous for it. Fortunately, this will be the last time an exam really counts. Sure, I'll have to take step 3, but from what I hear, you only really need to pass that. However, to make up for a not-so-stellar step 1 score, I have to rock step 2. I did get a little hope from a fellow blogger though, that it is possible to do just that!

I also went into the hospital to assist with a below the knee amputation on Saturday! Yes, I went into the hospital on my day off, to help with a surgery. I either really love surgery, or am a very sick person who enjoys punishment. This is particularly true because the surgeon I scrubbed with very much enjoys asking me questions that I often cannot answer. Fortunately, he was impressed that I came in on my day off to follow through with my patient, so he didn't ask me anything. Either that, or he was just rushed to get out and didn't feel like wasting time. In any case, the surgery was very cool...probably the best of my time so far! Now, I have to go get food. As usual, I'm hungry!

a bunch of firsts

I wound up working long call (overnight) last night so that I could get off a little earlier on Thursday. Overall, it was exhausting, since I hadn't expected to be staying overnight and didn't really get enough sleep for it. But, it did turn out to be pretty worth while. First, I did my first arterial line. Later, I did my first solo lumbar puncture (and got it). And, just before I was preparing to leave this morning, we got two emergency appendectomies! They're kind of fast and not the most interesting surgery in the world, but they're interesting for the first (and second) time. And, I like any surgery where I at least get to suture at the end, and I did that at both of these. In between, I wrote a few progress notes. They're not the most exciting thing, but I still like having my notes actually included in the charts. Now though, it's time for bed! I'm beyond exhausted!

A breath of fresh air

It's only been 3 days, but so far, I love surgery!! I do not love morning rounds or the lectures which seem to happen a bit too often, but the surgery makes up for it, and there's definitely plenty of surgery. On the first day, I scrubbed in on my first surgery; today, i scrubbed in on three. When I'm in the OR, time just seems to fly by. I could have probably left today around 4, but i wound up there until around 7, because I felt like going into another surgery. I have to be at the hospital, and we've already finished rounding, before most people wake up, but it just doesn't bother me. It may eventually, and I typically really like my sleep, but it doesn't now.

I love the process of scrubbing in and getting sterile, talking to the patients before they go to sleep, watching (eventually making) the first incision, helping out with the surgery, and then watching the patient wake up, all repaired. That's the short version of it, but I love it all. Yes...this is what I"m supposed to be doing.

P.S. - Today, I graduated from suturing animal parts and cadavers to suturing real live people :)

Sucks to be on Medicare!

Unless congress can get their acts together and do something fast, Monday is going to be a very bad time to be a medicare patient! On Monday, a 21.2% cut in physician reimbursements will go into effect. There are already plenty doctors out there who don't take medicare or who are decreasing the number of patients they have on Medicare. But, if this goes into effect, it's going to be very bad. The AMA is already telling physicians how to help their patients find new doctors and physicians have already asked for handouts they can give to patients that they drop. When this happens, Medicare patients are going to be forced to go to clinics where it's hard to get appointments, you wait forever, and you get less attention. And please do not think that this is because doctors are greedy. Rather, it's because doctors are already not getting paid enough money, particularly in primary care (especially considering the quarter million dollars of debt you come out of med school with). If they have to take this cut, many will not be able to even remain profitable.

Situations like this are exactly why there is going to be an enormous shortage of primary care physicians in the future, and patient care is going to suffer for it. And, this is exactly why US healthcare could not ever survive with a nationalized government healthcare plan. The government already cannot manage the much smaller medicare program...the last thing they need it control over anything else! Once again, thank you Massachusetts!!

Update: so it looks as though this will wind up not really being a problem. Apparently the vote today had to be unanimous, so it didn't pass because one guy insisted on voting against it (there are some other things tucked in there, of course, that he didn't agree with). However, it will be able to have a real vote on Tuesday, where it will almost certainly pass, and things should carry on with little to no interruption. Good news for doctors, as well as people on COBRA or unemployment (other areas touched by this bill). Still, Washington really needs to get their collective heads out of their asses