I had the craziest, most stressful morning today! I get to work usually around 7:30 every day because I like to prepare my exam room, prep my electronic medical charts, and review all my patients for the day again (I say "again" because I reviewed them the day before). So, just like every other morning, I got myself ready and went to work. Today I got there earlier than usual because after a weekend, I wasn't completely sure if I had chart reviewed my Monday patients last Friday so I just wanted more time for myself to review all my charts before I started the day off. Well...guess what....the computers were down this morning. Does that mean they were broken or something? No......they still turn on, but there was no network and no internet, so they mind as well be broken.
I couldn't check email, no electronic medical charts to review, I couldn't even see how many or what patients I had today, I just sat there until 8am, hoping my first patient wouldn't show up. But of course, no dice, my patient shows up. I felt so helpless. I didn't know anything about this person. I didn't know if they have been seen before, if they had major issues that I should be following up on, I didn't even know what they were here for (i.e. general exam or something specific)! This must have been how cavemen doctor's ran their clinic because I just grabbed a piece of paper and started my exam.
I imagine it was just as awkward for me to conduct the exam as it was for the patient. Awkward for me, because I sound like I don't know anything about their medical history and look inadequate and unprepared. Awkward for them because they don't know anything about their own medical record and look ridiculously under educated.
Me: Hi, sorry, you are going to have to bare with me, the computers are down today, so I don't know anything about you, can you fill me in on some details? Are you a new patient? Have you been here before?
Patient: I've been here many many years.
Me: Oh, ok...well, do you have any previous diseases that I should be following up on?
Patient: I don't know.
Me: Are you on any medications for any diseases?
Patient: I don't know. I might be taking something for that one thing...hmmm...
Me: o_O.....*waits
Patient: ...........I don't know.
Me: Ok.....well then, when was the last time we've seen you?
Patient: 4-5 years ago
Me: I thought you've been seeing us for many many years...?
Patient: Oh, I thought you meant if you've seen me many many years ago....*chuckles
Me: O_O......Ok, let's move on.....have you had any injuries or surgeries?
Patient: Nope.
Me: Do you have diabetes?
Patient: Nope.
Me: Ok, let's begin....*begins check up*....so you said you've never had any surgeries before?
Patient: Nope.
Me: So you've never had cataract surgery before?
Patient: Oh...yeah...forgot about that.
Me: O_O
Patient: I have a question for you. How could you tell?
Me: It's obvious, your eyes just sparkle more than normal eyes.
Patient: Oh! I noticed that when I look in the mirror too! My eyes are really sparkly! I thought I was just special!
Me: O_O
So long story short, talking to patients give you NO information WHATSOEVER. I basically had to just do the exam and find everything out for myself. This is crazy. What happened to common decency of just knowing about your own health and what medications you take?? Why do people not know if they have had any previously diagnosed diseases? Why do people forget they've had surgery?? Why do people not remember what medications they're on?? Aren't they taking these meds everyday?? This is CRAZY!
So I digress. Halfway through the morning, when I realize I'm DYING from trying to run exams on sheets of white paper (not knowing if my findings are new or old, if this is an acute emergency or just a chronic condition), I realized that my technician is still not at work yet. So I text her and find out that she was in the hospital last night and called in sick today. I was really worried about her but I really didn't have time to think about it since I was drowning in patients. I had a few dire cases that I had to do auxiliary testing on them (which normally my tech helps out with) so since she wasn't here, I had to run the tests myself. So basically, I was the doctor and the technician today.
What topped the whole crazy, busy morning off was that I actually had a patient with an emergency today. I found something CRAZY going on and he needed attention STAT. So normally, if I had the time, I would call somebody at the main hospital (>400miles away) and discuss this case with them. But of course, being super busy, very behind, and super stressed out, I just sent the patient home and told him "someone will get in touch with you about your DIRE medical condition that needs IMMEDIATE attention." Ha, funny. "Go home and wait." That's exactly what you want to hear when you have a emergency medical condition.
So after a morning of craziness, the computers finally came back up during lunch time, which meant, I had to transfer all my findings from paper to computer. That took my entire lunch time do, because, don't forget, I had to make an emergency call to the medical center and get some immediate medical attention for my patient. After an hour of busily translating my random chicken scratch notes into medical notes and calling people, I finished at 1pm. Just in time to see my afternoon patients. Wonderful.
Just to go back to my "random chicken scratch notes," I am not exaggerating! I seriously had random things written everywhere. Out of order, just scribble quickly in random places, unorganized, incomplete....it was terrible! I had the hardest time trying to call what I saw in each patient because I didn't take good enough notes and the notes that I did write were apparently not legible.
The only thing that made my morning better was a few comments a few patients gave me:
Patient #1: I heard you were really good.
Me: Thank you. From who?
Patient #1: There were a few guys sitting out in the waiting area that saw you before and they all said you were really good
Me: awwww :)
Patient #2: This is the best, most thorough exam I've ever had, you are very good.
Me: aww thank you.
Patient #2: Oh...and you are very nice
Me: awww, thanks, I try :)
Patient #3: You did a great job, thank you so much.
Me: awww, you're welcome.
I guess at the end of the crazy, stressful day, it's..........
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get my tech a "get well soon" cake. She's coming back to work tomorrow.
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