Days 33 & 34
(6/21 & 6/22)

I spent both Thursday and Friday in the ER, or Casualty as it’s called here. While other units are nice, they are always the same type of case or treatment; but in Casualty, it’s constantly changing. I know a lot of times this type of unit is highly stressful, but I also think it would be nice to be constantly challenging yourself with different types of cases. For example, in the span of two days, I was able to see several people come in with fevers; a young boy needed a dressing change for a head wound; several accidents that required sutures; a bronchioscope to investigate a tumor; a diabetic woman with hypoglycemia brought in by ambulance; a woman with cellulitis (infection of the soft tissue). Keeps you constantly on your toes, that’s for sure!

I’m definitely finding out that a big part of the experience is who you’re working with. Luckily the nurses and doctors have all been nice, but I found it to be especially fun in Casualty. The doctors seemed more involved in care and the nurses were a riot! It’s funny because when I first came in they (nurses) were a little reserved and we didn’t talk that much. But then all of a sudden it’s like a switch is flipped; everyone started joking around more and they decided to give me a tour of the unit (keep in mind I had been there several hours already and it only has about 10 beds, so I’d pretty much seen it anyways)! And of course all the questions begin too: where do you stay? Are you alone? Did you eat breakfast? Have you had lunch? Are you in MBBS (India’s medical school)? How does it work in America? What’s this called in America? But overall it was a great experience! I’m supposed to be on a different unit Monday but when the nurses found out I’d spent three days on OPD but only two with them, they told me I had to come back Monday, so we’ll see!

Thursday I unfortunately had to leave early to go to a CSIM event with the GSE kids. They have weekly speakers and this week one of the speakers was a doctor who started a rural hospital and school in Mysore. It was interesting because when I asked him about incorporating traditional medicine with allopathic medicine, he answered that they just want to alleviate pain and suffering, whatever method that may be. It sounds like they really try to incorporate all types of medicine in order to best help the patients and their beliefs. I really wasn’t expecting this answer because the doctors at RMH view traditional medicine as a real hindrance; patients will use traditional medicine, not really be helped, and then come to the hospital even sicker and expecting a cure. I guess it makes sense to incorporate and be mindful of all types of medicine, but I really emphasize with the doctors who are expected to save the world. But in the end, I guess it’s just about giving patients all their options and then letting them choose.

Friday night, Laura brought in one of her friends to speak about his work with art in under-privileged communities, which was really interesting.