Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Boom...outpatient is done

So, today I wrapped up my last day of outpatient IM. It's kind of weird knowing I won't be back that office for quite some time. I'll try and swing back to say hey sometime while I'm still around here but my schedule will keep me pretty busy. Given that it was my first rotation and did a lot of my "firsts" there it will definitely be missed. However, on to more exciting things with inpatient.

Cheers

Sunday, July 29, 2012

1 month done...almost

So, come Tuesday, I'll have my first month done....crazy. It's amazing to me how fast these past few weeks have gone. I knew i'd be kept busy with the clinic plus studying, however I didn't think it would all go THIS fast. Come wednesday I move back to inpatient for 2 months so that will be a nice change of pace.

All in all, outpatient has been a great experience. It's given me an interesting perspective on medicine simply based on the population base in the clinic I'm at. Family, friends, musicians, athletes, homeless, CEO, retired; the list is never ending. The ability to communicate problems with a wide array of patients is really a skill all by itself.

My one gripe with outpatient is....drugs! In school we learn all pharm by generic names...whereas now in outpatient I feel like everything is done by trade names! Plus when you throw in all the combo drugs it gets to be a headache. I think i'm finally getting a hold of it now though, of course right when I'm finishing. I've heard that inpatient is mainly generics so that'll be a little better for me.

On another note, the olympics started which is always fun. It's crazy to think that 4 years ago I was watching most of them in Sanford during CA training. A lot has happened in 4 years and it's crazy to imagine what will happen between now and 2016 in Rio.....

Yeah this post was all over the place...which sums me up right now. 2098323 things going on and even more that i'm probably forgetting! Today I worked on my CV which makes me want to kick myself for not working on it as I did things these past few years....would have saved some time.

Noxolo

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Hump day

1. It cooled off some today....thank goodness!

2. Reps brought breakfast (starbucks and muffins/donuts), lunch (pitas) and a snack (coldstone ice cream) today...needless to say it was a good day.

3. So in basic sciences when you're face deep in a book trying to learn all these drug side effects and random disease facts you honestly think WHEN will I ever see a patient with this or that. Well, today was one of those days for me. It's always interesting and invigorating  to see the details you've learned in the past. To me, it helps put all the work into perspective. We're past the phase of learning to pass the test; we're on to learning to help patients (granted that has been the ultimate goal from day 1, it's a little harder to appreciate the knowledge until you get legitimate patient interaction).

Cheers

Monday, July 16, 2012

Monday funday

Today was a new day, new doc and new pts. I'll say this, lots of patients means keeping me super busy and thus the time FLIES by at the office. All in all it was a solid day filled with murmurs, bruits, SOAP notes and cortisol shots. Just another day in the life....

Oh and trying to study after I get home sucks! Honestly it's the last thing I want to do buttttt it has to get done...

Noxolo

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

2 thoughts from this week

1. Drug reps are okay in my book. Sure, you're pushing some drug or some test that probably costs far too much money and shouldn't be used for the people you're pushing it on...that's fine, it's my job not to use your product when I shouldn't. However, please keep bringing free lunch and I will continue to entertain you for about 5 minutes as I pick through what you've gotten us.

2. Since when does everyone in a hospital wear a white coat? If a person only associated a white coat with a doctor there would definitely not be a doctor shortage in this country. I swear every other day I find a new job title that now decides it's time to wear a white coat...I really think other color coats should be implemented. That way you get your coat, and I don't look so funny being the ONLY person in a group of 20, 5 of which may be doctors, who has to wear a short white coat.

Cheers

Sunday, July 8, 2012

1 week down. 75 more to go

My first week of MS3 is officially behind me. It was filled with orientation, a holiday day off, and 2 days in the out patient clinic. It was nice to sort of be eased into it all but I think this week may be different. As of now, it's still just study and study and study and keep on studying. Hopefully the temp will at least stay low(er) this week. Otherwise it makes it stupid hot with dress clothes and a white coat on! Oh well.

On another note, I started UW and USMLE Rx Qs again with the goal of finishing how ever many Qs they have for each core. UW alone has around 1400 for IM sooo I have no clue how doable that goal is but I guess time will tell.

Cheers

Monday, July 2, 2012

Orientation: Checkkk

As of today: goodbye sleeping in, goodbye relaxing and goodbye TV shows I used to watch to kill time. We had orientation and I have a feeling it's about to get real, real soon. Although I did just find out I'll be on outpatient IM to start, and from what i've heard it isn't quite the kick in the face I was expecting for time requirements....not that I'm complaining AT all. Hopefully after tomorrow I'll have a better idea of my schedule and what is expected of me because as of now a lot is still up in the air to me. 

We also got our pagers and IDs today which makes me feel like it's all official now. HA. Lets just hope I don't lose either in the near future and I'l call it a win.