Under Construction

So today I was just a bum.

I had the luxury of waking up way later than usual since I didn’t have to report to the hospital until later tonight. What I love about this Family Medicine rotation is the (unreasonably) huge amount of free time we have. Coming from a month-long rotation that was super toxic (Pediatrics), this month of R&R is well-deserved I must say, especially since after this it’s going to be another physically and mentally taxing department (OB-GYN) we’re gonna have to brave. Not that we don’t do a lot of work around here, it’s just that the amount of it we have to accomplish is not as daunting compared to the bigger, more exhausting rotations.

So this week we rotate at the PGH’s Ambulatory Clinic, which is conveniently in front of our Emergency Room. Basically we cater to cases that, upon after being triaged from the ER are deemed “less toxic” - meaning are not grave enough to be admitted into the ER and may be managed conservatively and sent home.

The types of cases we see range from your usual febrile illnesses - less serious viral infections, mild pneumonia, urinary tract infections and those suspect of dengue without any signs of bleeding or leptospirosis - as well as asthma-related shortness of breath, abdominal pains (acid peptic disease and dyspepsia usually) and unrelenting headaches. Then there’s also the hypertensives who present with a myriad of benign symptoms (mostly bantays of ER patients themselves) who resolve with conservative management. Plus a handful of those chronic cases, e.g. those requiring a change of their indwelling Foley catheters or nebulization with asthma meds but don’t have a nebulizer at home. Simply put, these are cases every doctor is expected to manage expertly in an out-patient setting (especially if there’s no OPD, like at night or during weekends).

So my benign schedule for today allowed me to study for a bit, watch my series (this new comedy I’m watching, Suburgatory, is hilarious!) and be online the entire day (mostly Tumblr). I’m loving all this benignity, it kinda sucks we only have one week here before another week with Community Med and then the dreaded month with vajayjays.

Anyway, I’m off now to go on a ten-hour duty (yes, only 10!) at Ambu. Wish me a benign duty!