Family Medicine is Underway!

I have just finished my second day in my FM rotation! I was so worried that it wouldn't be what I was hoping for but I know I am already getting some great experience. I am in an outpatient practice for the next six weeks with my preceptor and on my first day she asked if I would want to follow her around to learn the ropes or just jump on in and work up my own patients. I really wanted to be thrown into the mix and that's just what happened. We had about 15-17 patients my first day, 9 of which I worked up. My preceptor of course asked if it was alright for me to come in to do my exam and then the floor was mine! I took their histories (unless it was a complete physical, just a more directed history), did any exams that I thought were necessary, presented back to her and then re-visited these patients together with her to finish off the visit and fill in any gaps if needed. It was a great first day and really made me feel very comfortable right from the start to just knock, walk in the room and sit on that little doctor stool all by myself. Haha, I still think the stool is one of the coolest parts (weird huh?). I get to take in the charts write up my SOAP notes and even sign my own work. To me, it is very exciting - and I am so grateful to my preceptor for giving me such freedom on my first day. Most of my patients were pain: shoulder pain, headache, ankle injury, back pain. I also had some headcolds, possible kidney infection, spinal headache from an epidural and more. I write up lab orders but for now it is mostly by her discretion which is discussed while we visit together. I think though that very soon I will come out with my own orders as well. Anyhoo, all in all it was a great day.

Today was a bit slower but I didn't mind so much. I still got to do my own cases but was able to begin some procedures today. My preceptor is a "see one, do one" kind of doctor as long as patients are willing. I got to do an awesome ear flushing (haha) but then was able to draw up and administer 4 injections: 2 in the hip, 1 deltoid and 1 in the posterior arm. Only day two and with the experience thus far, I am just extrapolating that over the next 6 weeks. I am hoping though that I am making a good impression. Slowly the pimping is starting, some I get right and some I don't. She is very understanding and is very happy to teach me. I need to keep my nose to the grindstone and keep improving!

In the meantime, my scores are supposed to be coming out tomorrow. I don't want to delve into it to much but my Synergy deadline is tomorrow as well. I did all I could do and I hope that it comes on time. I know they are waiting on many students scores accepted into Synergy but I just hope the program doesn't drop us all because they have delayed our scores. Sigh, anyway - more to come! Stay tuned!