One down, seven to go!

My first rotation is already completed.  I can't believe how fast it flew by.  I sure enjoyed my six weeks of OB/GYN learning I received at Today's Women's Health Specialists.  My doctors, Watters, Purohit, Frausto, and Boag, all taught me different things because they each had their own teaching style.  I love being in the clinic and out of the classroom.  I was very nervous to start talking with patients, and try to figure out all their problems and give them answers, but learned how to focus in on what is most important for that visit.  I learned more about the female reproductive system, how it functions and what's the normal aging process.  I saw lots, but my most favorite part was being in the Operating Room.  Even though, I was yelled at every time, I loved scrubbing in and getting to participate in the surgery.  The whole birthing process wasn't really my favorite.  It was interesting to see a few times, but definitely not a fan of vaginal deliveires.  I enjoyed cesarean sections and watching the doctor pull the baby out, pass the kid over to the nurse, bring the uterus out to piece it back together, and then put everything back into place.  I did enjoy watching the newborn assessment because by that time the baby looked normal.  Overall, I felt like it was a great rotation to start off with because it was system focused.  The majority of other problems were referred back to the PCP.

Yesterday I made my trek to Morenci, AZ.  I left a little later that I had planned on, and got into town about 1030pm.  It was a lot of windy roads through the reservation between Globe and Safford, but it helped me stay awake.  I pulled into Morenci with no expectations.  It's quite the place.  It's small like Delta, where I grew up, with 4,000 people living in Freestone Mining Industry homes.  This town is owned by the mine.  The housing structure is different, but works.  I will take pictures of the town soon.  I came around back of the Gila Healthcare to the Urgent Care.  I ran the bell, and two nice men came and let me in.  Right away they were excited it was there because they had a patient they wanted me to see.  It was a young boy about 7 years old complaining of ear pain.  I looked in both ears and could see that their was some bulging and effusion in the left ear.  I also listened to his heart which was a different, but normal rhythm.  As he takes a breath in his heart rate speeds up, and then when he blows out it slows down with a slight pop.  It was cool to be able recognize something abnormal from the usual normalities.  After all the excitement of getting the prescription for Amoxicillin figured out, they finally showed me where my room was.  Yes, I am living in the clinic/hospital for the six weeks while I am up here.  Here's a few great shots of my new living quarters.

I've got quite the place!  Today was my first day working in Emergency Medicine.  I didn't want to do an ER because I am terrified at all the trauma they see there, and opted for the Urgent Care.  It was actually pretty busy, the staff said.  I saw probably 20 patients with and without the doctor (she saw more!).  I felt like it was a good experience for a first day.  I really liked that you saw the patient, treated the problem, and sent them on their way with a follow up with their PCP.  I saw an eye laceration, viral vasculitis causing joint pain and diffuse rash, a couple of broken fingers, hematuria, among a few things, and I even placed my first IV.  I think this is going to be a great rotation.  The staff is very helpful, I get to make my own schedule, and pretty much they are willing to let me do whatever I feel comfortable doing (to some degree).  I think I will get to help in a lot of procedures and they even said that I could go out on the paramedic rides.  I'm going to learn a lot here!  It is definitely a rural town where everyone knows everyones business.  But it seems like a good little community.  I am looking forward to meeting up with Kim Woods Sant from high school, and visiting with her family as well.

Already on to rotation number two.  I'm surprised at how much I like being in the clinic.  I think this year is going to fly by, and before you know it, I'm going to be practicing.  I hope I get the experience I need before then.