Tag Archives: rural medicine

The Ultimate Book at the Start of a New Era in my Medical Career [Review]

What I thought this book would be about:

Doctors are too paternalistic, patients know better than doctors, FREEDOM TO THE PEOPLE YO, doctors are obsolete, welcome our overlords the computers who will heal you now.

What this book was about:

The inevitable changes in medical science that give us the choice: adapt or die. (Spoiler alert: adaptation is usually the preferable option.) Awesome technology! Awesome ethics! Incredible advancements! Medicine is NOT stagnant! Awesome peer-reviewed research!

A Tale of Two Sisters (and Grief and Mental Health)

Two little sisters had an extended stay in the small rural hospital. They were the stars of the Paeds ward. The little one was absolutely shining and brightened up the whole ward. I spent ward rounds with her in my arms, on my hips, and eventually falling asleep on my back. She was loved. The olderContinue reading “A Tale of Two Sisters (and Grief and Mental Health)”

For Mother’s Day: A Rural Story of a Mother’s Love

I have amazing women in my life – a wonderful mother, grandmother and aunts. I have written about them before, so this Mother’s Day I am sharing a story I have told them, and I know they won’t mind it as a tribute to all mothers. My rural Family Medicine rotation earlier this year wasContinue reading “For Mother’s Day: A Rural Story of a Mother’s Love”

The Time I Got Injured On Duty

It was hot summer afternoon and I was on my rural Family Medicine rotation; the Friday leading up to my birthday weekend. I was looking forward to an off-weekend, and I’d be going home to spend my birthday with my family for the first time since 2008. I had dressed up in a new skirt,Continue reading “The Time I Got Injured On Duty”

“Water, Water, Every Where”

I live in a water-scarce country on a water-scarce continent. I grew up with a little ditty, “Kinders moenie in die water mors nie, die ou mense wil dit drink” – “Children, don’t mess with water, the old people want to drink it”. Parts of my country has had water restrictions in the years thatContinue reading ““Water, Water, Every Where””

IV Lines: You’re Doin’ It Wrong

A quick contribution to this month’s Medical Monday. I am in the last week of Family Medicine and trying to finish of the mass of projects we have to present this week. Additionally I have just realised that my first set of exams (the B.Ch-part, a.k.a. Surgery) is in two months. I am not feelingContinue reading “IV Lines: You’re Doin’ It Wrong”

On ComServe, and the Desroches Case

My friends and I have this joke among ourselves. We say that medical school is like slavery. But then we say, it’s actually WORSE than slavery, because we PAY to work ridiculous hours in ridiculous conditions. As you can see it’s kind of more of a tragedy, but we’ve chosen to make it a joke.Continue reading “On ComServe, and the Desroches Case”

Mobile Update: Weekend Trips

One of the awesome things about rural rotations is the opportunity to explore the surrounds. This weekend we went to quite a few surrounding villages (and today we hiked for the better part of the day and my muscles are cursing me). This is a photo I took on the way. I really hope itContinue reading “Mobile Update: Weekend Trips”

Lunch Posts: Lunch at Rural Hospital

The food trolley with the squeaky wheel arrives in the Outpatients’ Department. It is laden with with warm cling-wrapped food. Rice, pumpkin, beans, and on a good day, some meat. Surreptitiously a lull descends over OPD. You know you are really hungry when hospital food looks appetising. Doctors conclude their current consultations and walk toContinue reading “Lunch Posts: Lunch at Rural Hospital”