Clinic today went really, really well. Probably because I had two patients that didn’t show up, but there were other reasons. A couple of my favorite attendings who I just admire so much for their knowledge and compassion were there and staffed my patients. We discussed things quickly and thoroughly, formulated a plan, and went to discuss it with the patients. The patients liked the plans and everything went so smoothly. The attendings didn’t insist on repeating the entire physical exam (my biggest pet peeve. I have a half hour scheduled to see these patients. There is not enough time for me to see them, examine them, you to ask me about all of the details of the physical exam and then you to do it all over again!! Trust me when I say that their sensation is intact!). Plus there was still some time for teaching, both for me and the patients, which was lovely.

Two of my patients were people that I have seen since starting residency 2.5 years ago, and even though I haven’t fixed their problems, I’ve developed a close relationship with them. I will miss them when I switch clinics. When I look over my schedule, most of my patients I really like and they’re the reason that I went into medicine in the first place. I just wish I didn’t feel so overwhelmed all the time so that I could remember that feeling more.

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Happy Veterans Day! I do love the veterans so and I’m so grateful for the service to the country, and I really do love the opportunity to serve them now. Most of all, I’m grateful for the holiday, so that I could catch up on a few notes, as well as some sleep.