Our electronic medical record is great! No, really, I mean it. I love the clarity it provides and I love having all of my colleagues' notes available. Since I am spending my evenings preparing my own progress notes, the turn-around time from appointment to outgoing letter is only a couple of days! That is what the system is supposed to do.
Still...
As the new system takes over my life, I find that I am writing less, journal-writing less, emailing less. I guess I get only so many keystrokes in my day before my fingers say, "Enough!" For example, one of my New Patient Consultation notes this week was 1100 words. That's enough for a couple of blog posts.
So, if blog volume is slowing down, maybe it is because my keyboarding duties are picking up. As the medical record transition settles down, I hope my writing returns to the more creative.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
One-Trick Pony
Every once in a while, I get interviewed. Yesterday, it happened once again.
About noon on Wednesday, just as I was finishing seeing patients in clinic, I received a call that a local TV station wanted a doctor to talk about the dangers of cancer patients continuing to smoke.
"Why are they interested in that right now?" I wanted to know.
"Patrick Swayze is being interviewed by Barbara Walters tonight on ABC. He is still smoking and has no intention of giving it up. Can you talk to them?"
"Sure," I said. We made arrangements. A couple of hours later, I spent 10 minutes talking about several aspects of the problem: How patients who quit have better survival statistics, how quitting decreases rates of second primary tumors, how quitting saves money, how quitting improves quality of life, how reassuring quitting can be to family and friends. It was a nice discussion. As ususal, only about 10 seconds of the conversation made it on the air.
I reflected on the experience. First of all, the process of giving an interview is fun. I enjoy the chance to appear on TV in the same way I enjoy the blog: it gives me the opportunity to reflect on what I see every day and distill my thoughts into a few words.
On the other hand, I realized that every time I have been on TV or get quoted in the paper, I become the dreary voice of authority: Smoking is Bad. Cancer is Bad. Research is Good. Snuff is Dangerous. Cigars are Not A Safe Alternative.
Not the stuff of comedy, irony, or light conversation.
I still got a kick out of seeing myself on TV last night and am amazed how many people spotted my brief moment on the air. Someday, though, it would be fun to talk about something a little less - say - predictable.
About noon on Wednesday, just as I was finishing seeing patients in clinic, I received a call that a local TV station wanted a doctor to talk about the dangers of cancer patients continuing to smoke.
"Why are they interested in that right now?" I wanted to know.
"Patrick Swayze is being interviewed by Barbara Walters tonight on ABC. He is still smoking and has no intention of giving it up. Can you talk to them?"
"Sure," I said. We made arrangements. A couple of hours later, I spent 10 minutes talking about several aspects of the problem: How patients who quit have better survival statistics, how quitting decreases rates of second primary tumors, how quitting saves money, how quitting improves quality of life, how reassuring quitting can be to family and friends. It was a nice discussion. As ususal, only about 10 seconds of the conversation made it on the air.
I reflected on the experience. First of all, the process of giving an interview is fun. I enjoy the chance to appear on TV in the same way I enjoy the blog: it gives me the opportunity to reflect on what I see every day and distill my thoughts into a few words.
On the other hand, I realized that every time I have been on TV or get quoted in the paper, I become the dreary voice of authority: Smoking is Bad. Cancer is Bad. Research is Good. Snuff is Dangerous. Cigars are Not A Safe Alternative.
Not the stuff of comedy, irony, or light conversation.
I still got a kick out of seeing myself on TV last night and am amazed how many people spotted my brief moment on the air. Someday, though, it would be fun to talk about something a little less - say - predictable.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
2008 Medical Weblog Award Finalists Announced
My other blog (Reflections in a Head Mirror) is a finalist for the 2008 Medical Weblog Award in the "Best Literary Medical Weblog" category! Thanks so much to previous winner Ramona for the nomination. I have really enjoyed visiting the other sites on the list. There are some truly amazing stories and gifted writers represented.
If you are interested, voting will take place for the next couple of weeks at the links found here.
It's an honor to be included in a list like this! May the best blogs win!
Best Medical Weblog
Clinical Cases and Images
Clinical Correlations
The Health Care Blog
Kevin, M.D.
WSJ Health Blog
Best New Medical Weblog (established in 2008)
Laika's MedLibLog
Life in the Fast Lane
medtechinsider
The New Health Dialogue
Science-Based Medicine
Best Literary Medical Weblog
Notes of an Anesthesioboist
On The Clock
other things amanzi
Reflections by Dr. Bruce Campbell
Running for My Life: Fighting cancer one step at a time
Best Clinical Sciences Weblog
Clinical Cases and Images
Clinical Correlations
scan man's notes
Best Health Policies/Ethics Weblog
Better Health
The Last Psychiatrist
Stuart Laidlaw's Medical Ethics blog
Medical Futility
Respectful Insolence
Best Medical Technologies/Informatics Weblog
AppleQuack
Clinical Cases and Images
Life as a Healthcare CIO
medtechinsider
Ted Eytan, MD
TomographyBlog
Best Patient's Blog
Alin's Site
Beating Social Anxiety
Brass and Ivory: Life with Multiple Sclerosis
ButYouDontLookSick
Confessions Of A CF Husband
Duncan Cross
Furious Seasons
Look Me In The Eye
Running for My Life: Fighting cancer one step at a time
Six Until Me
Soulful Sepulcher
Survive the Journey
If you are interested, voting will take place for the next couple of weeks at the links found here.
It's an honor to be included in a list like this! May the best blogs win!
Best Medical Weblog
Clinical Cases and Images
Clinical Correlations
The Health Care Blog
Kevin, M.D.
WSJ Health Blog
Best New Medical Weblog (established in 2008)
Laika's MedLibLog
Life in the Fast Lane
medtechinsider
The New Health Dialogue
Science-Based Medicine
Best Literary Medical Weblog
Notes of an Anesthesioboist
On The Clock
other things amanzi
Reflections by Dr. Bruce Campbell
Running for My Life: Fighting cancer one step at a time
Best Clinical Sciences Weblog
Clinical Cases and Images
Clinical Correlations
scan man's notes
Best Health Policies/Ethics Weblog
Better Health
The Last Psychiatrist
Stuart Laidlaw's Medical Ethics blog
Medical Futility
Respectful Insolence
Best Medical Technologies/Informatics Weblog
AppleQuack
Clinical Cases and Images
Life as a Healthcare CIO
medtechinsider
Ted Eytan, MD
TomographyBlog
Best Patient's Blog
Alin's Site
Beating Social Anxiety
Brass and Ivory: Life with Multiple Sclerosis
ButYouDontLookSick
Confessions Of A CF Husband
Duncan Cross
Furious Seasons
Look Me In The Eye
Running for My Life: Fighting cancer one step at a time
Six Until Me
Soulful Sepulcher
Survive the Journey
Monday, January 5, 2009
SurgeXperiences 214 is Up!
I spent too much time on it, but it was fun!SurgeXperiences is a collection of surgically-related blog posts and internet articles that is published every two weeks. I was given the opportunity to compile the "blog carnival" this week.
Blog compilations such as SurgeXperiences and Grand Rounds tend to have a theme. I had been thinking about Joyce Kilmer's poem, "Trees" for several days and decided to build off of that. Happily, the use of verse runs in the family. My mother always seemed to come up with a rhyme when the occasion called for it. I always thought the poems were silly, but, in keeping with the "tree" theme, I guess the apple did not fall far away, did it?
Stop by for a visit at this link.
Friday, January 2, 2009
The Christmas Poster
We have one more task to complete now that the holidays are behind us.
Several years ago, we began a post-holiday tradition. As we look at the greeting cards for the final time, we gather all of the photos together. The pictures are trimmed and glued to a poster board. We focus on the faces of friends and family. Amazingly, each year the photos we receive just barely fill up the poster board. The board is hung on its own nail on a door in the kitchen where it will stay until the next Christmas.
Represented on the board are relatives from all around the country. There are several current and dearly missed former neighbors. There are friends and aquaintences from school and work. There are several people we haven't seen in years and pictures of many kids that we have never met. To be honest, there are some people pictured that we might not even stop and see if our travels took us through their towns. On the other hand, there are many people with whom we would love to see again and get lost in a long all-night conversation.
A couple of times each week throughout the year, I scan the photos on the board. Sometimes, a relative or friend will come up in conversation and we will look at their photo. Sometimes, I just like to remind myself of how fortunate I am to have known some terrific folks.
Each photo evokes a distinct memory or sentiment. I am so grateful for these people and enjoy having their images close at hand year round.
Several years ago, we began a post-holiday tradition. As we look at the greeting cards for the final time, we gather all of the photos together. The pictures are trimmed and glued to a poster board. We focus on the faces of friends and family. Amazingly, each year the photos we receive just barely fill up the poster board. The board is hung on its own nail on a door in the kitchen where it will stay until the next Christmas.
Represented on the board are relatives from all around the country. There are several current and dearly missed former neighbors. There are friends and aquaintences from school and work. There are several people we haven't seen in years and pictures of many kids that we have never met. To be honest, there are some people pictured that we might not even stop and see if our travels took us through their towns. On the other hand, there are many people with whom we would love to see again and get lost in a long all-night conversation.
A couple of times each week throughout the year, I scan the photos on the board. Sometimes, a relative or friend will come up in conversation and we will look at their photo. Sometimes, I just like to remind myself of how fortunate I am to have known some terrific folks.
Each photo evokes a distinct memory or sentiment. I am so grateful for these people and enjoy having their images close at hand year round.
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