Medicine
The First Code
I managed to find myself as the first physician present in a code situation today. Talk about terrifying. The nurses were performing chest compressions and giving bagged breaths for a patient this morning by the time I walked into the room. I simply stood at the foot of the bed with a deer in headlights [...]
The First Admit
I admitted my first patient today. Last month I worked on a consult service–so I never had any of my “own” patients. That all changed today when I admitted a patient with pulmonary hypertension. It was mostly grunt work–filling out orders, doing a rectal, etc. Ya know, the normal intern stuff. We got the patient [...]
The Things Patients Say
I like to think I do a reasonable job and reducing medical explanations into something just about any patient can digest. Saying things like “bugs” for bacteria or “your body fights back” for immunological response help tone down the high brow medical discussion. Simple stuff. No big deal. But I’m often amused by the way [...]
The Contemporary Oath of Hippocrates
On Thursday evening, I took the following oath: Today, in the presence of family, friends, teachers, and colleagues, I dedicate myself to the profession of Medicine. I pledge myself to the service of humanity. I will use my skills to care for all in need, without bias and with openness of spirit. The health of [...]
Medical Insurance as a Job Benefit
So what would happen if all employer’s stopped contracting with health insurance carriers? Would the system fall apart? What moron decided it would be a good idea to tie health insurance to employment?* Why should those two go together? My car insurance doesn’t come with my job. Yeah, yeah, I get the “but healthy employees [...]
