A Couple Weeks In...

Well, still at it - doing the whole doctor thing.  It's fun, though I still gotta say I like clinic the most.  Clinic is where I see myself practicing most of the time.  Right now, though, I've got another week of Emergency left.  It's fun, it's interesting - a fair few procedures and such.  Only thing about it though is it's all very short term - essentially putting a bandage on someone's problem.  I would find that very demoralizing after a while.  I guess it has the same appeal as surgery - there's a problem, and you fix what you see in front of you.  Maybe it was my education at an osteopathic school, but I just don't see the appeal.  Or at least it doesn't really feel like being a 'doctor.'  You don't even get to do elaborate labs when you have an interesting case - it's just 'not our problem, they'll work that up later.'  The lifestyle is somewhat appealing, a few long shifts then a few days off, but still - doesn't have the same appeal in terms of feeling fulfilled.  

Right now trying to figure out what I should focus on learning on my own - there's so much stuff to learn more about, and it's hard to know what to focus on.  

Also enjoying being employed - getting paychecks is great.  Once I get used to the schedule of how things work I'll feel better about everything and a little less stressed - scheduling in enough sleep is the biggest challenge.  I want to get more out of my day when I've been gone a long time, and end up cutting into sleep.  Almost August...my how time flies.  Well, I think I'll try to read up on one medical topic and one medication each day.  Or every other day.  Whichever I can accomplish.  I'd really like to at least know what receptors everything acts upon - some of them I know but some I just memorized what you use them for.  The nuances count the most...

As far as my crusade against poor management of mental health in outpatient medicine, I'm still not backing down.  Still using my PHQ-9s, documenting them, discussing it with patients... it would be really hard to manage some patients if I were limited by time the way the real doctors are.  I'm given a lot of time to see patients and hear their stories, and I'm really thankful for that.  It'll be a challenge in the future when I have to boil down a 45 minute psychiatric visit into a 15-20 minute visit that includes their other problems.  Gotta pick the battles where you can...

First Week of Residency Year 1

Well, I've had about a week of being a resident - I have to say, parking in "Doctor's Only" spots, getting all the free cafeteria food I want, introducing myself as a Doctor so-and-so, it's been pretty great!  It's taking a little getting used to, but it's fun!  I'm finally having a part in patient care and I think the confidence that comes from having decent decision making skills is making me better with my patient interactions.  Also, I have electronic medical records down almost like a second language after only a day or two.  I haven't used this system before, but I've always been good with computers so...after two years of gritting my teeth while watching my attendings attempt to chart patient visits, finally I am the one doing that!  

I've started out with clinic and homeless medicine - which is very interesting and it's a pretty easy way to start out.  The hours aren't that long and I get to do a lot of reading and videos.  I like that I get noon conferences - kind of a daily lecture on random stuff.  Also the commute from my place is less than 15 minutes no matter where I have to go so far!  For emergency, which I start next week, it gets a little more tricky - I might end up driving 30 minutes each way.  My first call is this weekend, luckily it's 7pm to 7am, starting on Saturday, so I get to sleep in and get both days to hang out and do stuff.  

Pretty much all moved in up here - our place is all settled, wedding and honeymoon are all done for now, time to get back to work...  I'm trying to start out with good habits - always taking care of things on time, staying organized, you know.  The things everyone says they'll do but usually don't do.  Well, I'm hoping to do them!  Anyhow, time to enjoy my evening... after a long day running around trying to keep a bunch of things straight in my head...

As a PS:  I keep seeing emails from recent medical graduates, international, caribbean and domestic, all sending us their applications hoping we've had a vacancy or to get started for the next round of residency applications.  All I can say is I am sooooo thankful to be done with that and finally I can stay put for three years and get paid money!  MONEY!  It's not much but it's something!