8th term on the horizon

Apparently we can now move on to 8th quarter.  After the butt kicking week of finals, we are now two weeks away from being "real" interns.

This new reality is going to sink its teeth into our brains once we meet and schedule our first patients.  The pressure will be much higher next term with the increase in responsibility in the clinic as well as the higher workload in clinic phase 2.  In ten weeks, it will be over and we'll be celebrating another victory.  The crazy thing is those who are in eighth quarter now will be receiving a doctorate in 5 quarters!

I never thought we'd get to this point.  In a way, it has been tough to know what it is going to be like because there is so much fluff out there.  By fluff, I mean BS.  Many say that splitting the 8th and 9th terms is much smarter than going straight through.  They might be right but up to this point, I have gotten through and I think it is possible to adapt.  Ask me in a few weeks and my answer may change.

In preparation for this big change at school, I ventured into the clinic on Friday after finals to review my new patient files.  My attempt to understand their issues was short lived because I was exhausted from the weeks beat down.  In the end, I logged nearly 3 hours reviewing their files and chatting with a few upper quarter students.  I do plan to go back next week to make another attempt to meet the lead intern and discuss each patient's file with them.  According to the senior interns, those who put forth the extra effort up front, end up staying on schedule and satisfying their requirements for entering higher tiers of patient care faster.  My hope is to fully understand each case I have inherited and establish contact with each patient by the end of the break.  The trick will be to learn how to schedule patient visits.  Lots to learn!

In the near future, I will not be able to discuss any particular case on the blog due to HIPPA privacy issues.  However, I can discuss the other inner workings of the clinic.  Things like, the amount of work needed to get done by the end of 8th quarter, the competency exams heading our way and perhaps the massive amount of paperwork associated with being a student doctor.

The excitement of it all is balanced with a little anxiety.  I think we should be a little nervous because we are now in charge of a handful of people's health.  If we are not a little on edge, we will make mistakes and we will lose our patients to someone else.  It is a fact that we must keep in mind.  Many students don't use the clinic for their health care because they had a bad experience.  I think those issues can be avoided if enough effort is made to become familiar with the patients problems and the intention to treat is purely for the benefit of the patient and not just for student credit.  Nobody likes feeling used.

One thing is for sure, it will not be a boring quarter.  For now, it is time to enjoy some time off, furnish a new apartment and begin relaxing.