Sunday, August 22, 2010
Clerkship is over, let the slacking begin
I've been watching a lot of Grey's Anatomy. Realizing I am exactly like Izzy. Overly invested, bake to deal with stress, but much shorter and much less cute. Cute isn't everything. Figured I would do the quiz for kicks to find out
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
I made dinner tonight!
It's been so long. I love being able to put together a healthy yummy meal - feel so productive.
yesterday I also sent off a paper to the school journal
it's been ages since I've actually finished a project and I'm amazed by how much better I feel
I've been trying to write at least 15 minutes a day which according to my book "writing your journal article in 12 weeks" (cheesy title but a fantastic book). It's been great to get me moving forward on some of my kabillion projects I have on the go.
It saves me on days like this when I have residents who act in silly, petty ways.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
you can have ice chips
It always seems so strange that patients are so grateful when we let them eat ice chips, pee without a catheter walk with the freedom of no iv's. On my psych rotation we handed out smoke passes to patients who were well behaved.
If patients make enough urine, out goes the foley.
There is such a huge amount of power given to the docs over their patients' smallest and most basic bodily function. Things everyone takes for granted.
If patients make enough urine, out goes the foley.
There is such a huge amount of power given to the docs over their patients' smallest and most basic bodily function. Things everyone takes for granted.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
more apps I'm using in clerkship
As far as organizational apps I've added, my favourite are calengoo and toodledo, but not just for their fun names.
CalenGoo:
Made to sync with your google calendar. I use this instead of the native calendar because I love my google calendar. You can set it up to text you before appointments, colour coordinate different aspects of your life, set up repeating appointments. Information is stored so you can access it off line, sync when you have an internet connection. There is an option for including details of your events. I usually cut and paste the information from emails into this space, e.g. 'don't forget to bring your midterm evaluations to this teaching session'. There are many more features, these are the ones I like most. The designers update the app on a fairly regular basis with improvements.
Definitely worth the price tag.
C: $6.99
Toodledo: I love that I can type up my to do list on my computer, organize it into folders depending on what the tasks are and sync it to my iPhone. Then I can tick off everything as I get it done.
I love ticking off that things are done!
Some of the features include setting up a repeating task (e.g. laundry qweekly), entirely customizable folders, lists tasks according to when they are due or by folder, you can add notes to tasks. They've added a notebook feature for the folders but I haven't really taken advantage of that yet. I can see it being useful for putting in contact information for a research project though.
Tasks can be organized into high to low priorities, or even star the ones you simply can't miss doing. The Hotlist automatically fills up with your most important tasks based on how you have organized them.
You can set up reminders with a series of fun sounds.
C: $3.99
File App:
This is a great way to store pdfs and word documents onto your device to save for later. I've filled mine with the lecture slides for this block so I can refer to them during lectures or review during down time. It really is all about being able to keep learning during downtime.
I also have my own versions of 'complete history and physical' sheets in it for 03:00 when I know I'm forgetting something, but can't remember what.
It's easy to set up sharing with your home wifi network so that you have your documents native to the device.
Some documents are just too big (my pdf version of the First Aid series), but it can still hold some large documents (my pdf version of the Case File series). I wouldn't bother getting the pro version since the free is so useful just as it is.
Free!
iFlashcards study helper:
This is another app you sync with your online account to have information native to your device. You can even share your login with someone you study with to enhance your pack of 'flash cards'. It's easy enough to make up the questions you know you'll need to review. I use this app for things like drug doses and uses, hormones, structures in anatomy. You can also put photos in.
CalenGoo:
Made to sync with your google calendar. I use this instead of the native calendar because I love my google calendar. You can set it up to text you before appointments, colour coordinate different aspects of your life, set up repeating appointments. Information is stored so you can access it off line, sync when you have an internet connection. There is an option for including details of your events. I usually cut and paste the information from emails into this space, e.g. 'don't forget to bring your midterm evaluations to this teaching session'. There are many more features, these are the ones I like most. The designers update the app on a fairly regular basis with improvements.
Definitely worth the price tag.
C: $6.99
Toodledo: I love that I can type up my to do list on my computer, organize it into folders depending on what the tasks are and sync it to my iPhone. Then I can tick off everything as I get it done.
I love ticking off that things are done!
Some of the features include setting up a repeating task (e.g. laundry qweekly), entirely customizable folders, lists tasks according to when they are due or by folder, you can add notes to tasks. They've added a notebook feature for the folders but I haven't really taken advantage of that yet. I can see it being useful for putting in contact information for a research project though.
Tasks can be organized into high to low priorities, or even star the ones you simply can't miss doing. The Hotlist automatically fills up with your most important tasks based on how you have organized them.
You can set up reminders with a series of fun sounds.
C: $3.99
File App:
This is a great way to store pdfs and word documents onto your device to save for later. I've filled mine with the lecture slides for this block so I can refer to them during lectures or review during down time. It really is all about being able to keep learning during downtime.
I also have my own versions of 'complete history and physical' sheets in it for 03:00 when I know I'm forgetting something, but can't remember what.
It's easy to set up sharing with your home wifi network so that you have your documents native to the device.
Some documents are just too big (my pdf version of the First Aid series), but it can still hold some large documents (my pdf version of the Case File series). I wouldn't bother getting the pro version since the free is so useful just as it is.
Free!
iFlashcards study helper:
This is another app you sync with your online account to have information native to your device. You can even share your login with someone you study with to enhance your pack of 'flash cards'. It's easy enough to make up the questions you know you'll need to review. I use this app for things like drug doses and uses, hormones, structures in anatomy. You can also put photos in.
When studying, you can mark cards you want to go back to or shuffle the deck and go through the whole thing again. You can also reverse how the cards are presented (i.e. given an answer, what was the question).
C: $3.99
PubMed On Tap:
Exactly what it sounds like. You need an internet connection for this one. By typing in keywords to the search engine, the app gives you a list of abstracts to peruse - the entire abstract. You can save the abstracts you want to look up in a file. If you have a mac you can sync this list with your computer. If there is a free article available, it will connect you with the resource.
I love it.
Even with just the abstract, you can get information on the latest research in whatever question is being discussed. I've used it to find the current guidelines on dosing of meds not commonly used and why paediatricians don't know about Octaplex.
The only real problem with it is a problem with me, my spelling. There is no autocorrect and it will only search for exactly what you put in.
The Lite version only gives you 20 (or 10?) abstracts at a time. I upgraded to this version within a day of using the Lite.
C: $2.99
Dragon Dictation:
This is an indulgent, not always useful app, good for when I'd rather talk out loud than type though. I'm impressed with how well it picks up my voice and converts it to written words.
The latest update adds to the keyboard that was available for editing. Now you can email, text, facebook, copy your dictation for use in another app or on your home computer.
Great for thinking out loud about research papers. It's a program I've seen for computers while at conferences and one that I plan on using in my own practice when I grow up.
Free!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Considering dipping my feet in chocolate
Or maybe enrolling in a social niceties class.
I spent yesterday with my foot in my mouth or realising that I am not ever going to be a standoffish doctor.
In the morning, in front of a consultant I went on and on about hating this rotation. In my defence I didn't see him right away because he was behind a nurse in the elevator. Still mortifying. I know him outside of the hospital as well which for some reason makes it even worse.
There was an emergency that didn't follow protocol in a rapid manner. The nurses had been harping on it being someone else's fault. Likely the family medicine resident but they wouldn't listen to me who saw the miscommunication take place. I told our chief resident that a miscommunication that took place was as much the nurse's fault as the resident as the nurse came around the corner.
d'oh
Later in the day, I accidently told a patient's family she'd had a boy when it was supposed to be a surprise. The same patient had an incredibly stressful day. During one of the most stressful moments, I was at her head, stroking her hair and trying to keep her calm. Without thinking, I bent over and kissed her on the forehead. She seemed to need a familiar action. Regretted it immediately. The patient however told me later that she was very happy for it. It made her feel happy and good in the moment.
phew
I am an emotional person. I have always been an emotional person. I speak my mind, I tell people I love them, I get excited when they're excited, I cry when they cry. It makes me get too involved, I worry when others don't.
I think it also makes a difference when people are having a really bad day. That makes the rest of it worth while.
I spent yesterday with my foot in my mouth or realising that I am not ever going to be a standoffish doctor.
In the morning, in front of a consultant I went on and on about hating this rotation. In my defence I didn't see him right away because he was behind a nurse in the elevator. Still mortifying. I know him outside of the hospital as well which for some reason makes it even worse.
There was an emergency that didn't follow protocol in a rapid manner. The nurses had been harping on it being someone else's fault. Likely the family medicine resident but they wouldn't listen to me who saw the miscommunication take place. I told our chief resident that a miscommunication that took place was as much the nurse's fault as the resident as the nurse came around the corner.
d'oh
Later in the day, I accidently told a patient's family she'd had a boy when it was supposed to be a surprise. The same patient had an incredibly stressful day. During one of the most stressful moments, I was at her head, stroking her hair and trying to keep her calm. Without thinking, I bent over and kissed her on the forehead. She seemed to need a familiar action. Regretted it immediately. The patient however told me later that she was very happy for it. It made her feel happy and good in the moment.
phew
I am an emotional person. I have always been an emotional person. I speak my mind, I tell people I love them, I get excited when they're excited, I cry when they cry. It makes me get too involved, I worry when others don't.
I think it also makes a difference when people are having a really bad day. That makes the rest of it worth while.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Awesome photo from Cute Overload, nothing to do with what I want to talk about today.
Despite the fact that Canada has "universal health care", not all our patients have access to this care. Women find themselves in a position of needing to choose between affording birth control and paying rent. I met one of these women who ended up pregnant, keeping the child and now has even more financial problems than if she had forgone her rent and bought birth control.
The Mirena IUD, one of the best options for women who are myopic in their health care choices, is the most expensive option at the initial outlay. It costs approximately $400. This is a one time cost and the Mirena lasts for 5 years. There is no need to remember to take pills daily or ensure his love is gloved to prevent a pregnancy. It's also a fabulous way to control heavy periods. The $400 is quite a bit for the woman who can't afford utilities.
Some docs are good enough to keep some of the samples given out by drug reps. This is disturbing on a whole different level. There is something to be said for beggars can't be choosers. If the birth control that may be the best choice for the patient (e.g. a mini pill, the nuva ring, mirena), is not available as a sample, then the patient gets the second (or third, or fourth) best option. Samples are given to the docs as good will from the drug reps to get their foot in the door, but also so that the docs can give them out to the patients who need them and see how they react and learn how the drug works.
New research out of Kingston shows that poverty plays a role in cancer prognosis. I assumed it would be because these folks are less likely to seek medical attention early, but one of the things they found was that patients presented at the same stage in their cancer. While it's true that we have universal health care in this country, we don't have universal access to healthy foods, education about our health and access to health promoting activities. The researchers are looking at "other factors such as tumour biology, presence of other illnesses, access to treatment, quality of care, or differences in nutrition, exercise and smoking may also play a role in survival".
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Fat makes the news
A thin woman was kicked off a plane to make room for an obese teenager.
I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I get that airlines have a difficult time with keeping obese and normal weight customers happy. What seems wrong though is that a person can take up 2 seats but pay for one. If the seats were too small to begin with, that's fair, they should give fat folks 2. If not, it seems right that they charge for 2 seats. It's what musicians have to pay to keep their instruments close.
What a political nightmare though.
I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I get that airlines have a difficult time with keeping obese and normal weight customers happy. What seems wrong though is that a person can take up 2 seats but pay for one. If the seats were too small to begin with, that's fair, they should give fat folks 2. If not, it seems right that they charge for 2 seats. It's what musicians have to pay to keep their instruments close.
What a political nightmare though.
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