Words I Want to Avoid as a Physician: Focal

Medical jargon drives me crazy sometimes. It makes sense to use with other health professionals who will know what you’re talking about. It facilitates communication in certain situations. With patients though, it seems to just get you in trouble, or make you look like a fool.
A focal neurologic deficit as I understand [...]

Great ER Quotes

What follows is a number of quotes heard while working in the ER that I have found entertaining/thought-provoking. Enjoy!

“You don’t even understand graham crackers.”- Psych patient. No, I don’t.

“They just need to go home and be sick at home,” exasperated physician in the pediatric ER.
“I shot a guys genitals off for raping my sister.” Eesh.
“No [...]

Know Who You’re Talking To

A while back I was working with a physician and we had just seen a psychiatric patient. Someone had pointed out to me how it was dumb to have the psych rooms so close the pediatric side of the Emergency Department. I decided to bring this up with the physician, in hopes to stimulate some [...]

Detachment

I saw a very sick child recently at one of the children’s Emergency Rooms I work in. At only 9 months of age the child has had a brain tumor removed as well as multiple surgeries involving a VP shunt.
The kid was there for increased vomiting and fussiness. As the physician talked with the [...]

Your kid is the sick one, not you

Everybody loves talking about themselves. I’m guilty just as much as any other person. But you’d think parents with a sick kid in the ER would have the presence of mind to realize that their kid is the sick one who should deserve the attention, not them.
I worked in Pediatrics tonight and I swear half [...]

A Great Compliment

A few days ago we received evaluations from doctors we have worked with. Most of the ER Scribes on our team are new this year and have worked for about 6-7 months, and this was the first time we received any feedback since training.
Here is what one of the doctors wrote on my eval:
“One of [...]

Why Pre Med Students Should Read Medical Blogs

Vitum Medicinus says it’s because it will help you get into medical school. Check out this stellar article outlining all the reasons it’s a good idea to read as many medical blogs as possible.
Among some of the best reasons provided: you’ll write a better essay, you’ll know for sure if medical school is right for [...]

Old Person, Coumadin, and Head Trauma. A Bad Combination

80 something year-old woman, traveling down an escalator. Unwitnessed fall. Presents to the ED with contusion and small laceration to the back of the head. Patient mostly complaining of left knee pain. She is triaged to one of the less acute rooms.
The doctor I’m working with goes to see her, hears a bit of [...]

Battling Cynicism in the ER

"Ten out of ten? Really? Is this really the worst pain you could possibly imagine?"
"Wow, this person has been in the ER 15 times in the last three months. You know what that means."
"Where are the normal people?"
These are just a sampling of the kinds of thoughts I’ve been having lately during my job [...]

Bad Jokes

An overheard conversation:
“Can I tell you about this patient?”
“Sure, what’s the chief complaint?”
“Well, they’re coming in because they were struck on the side of the face by a clock that fell from a bookcase above them.” A short pause. “Yes, that’s correct, this patient got clocked.”
Good times.