Good day ladies and gents.
The semester is almost over! I'm about to graduate from the University of St. Thomas. Wowwwwww....
I speak of this because I was talking to patients today and they were asking me about where I am attending college and what I was going to do with my life after college. Everyone smiled and spoke kindly of me - saying that I'll make it as a doctor. It sucks that I didn't get in this year, but I not gonna to let it bring me down. I will take advantage of this year off to learn more, and grow as a person. Like Rachel Wilhelm told me earlier, its not like my drive to become a doctor isn't there. I just have to tap into it more.
Volunteering at the homeless clinic has really helped me find where I want to be. I feel the so comfortable in this type of environment, that it becomes very difficult to think of what life would be like were I to choose a different profession. I don't know what else to say...this is probably the last post of for the year.
I want to thank my followers for reading and commenting on my posts. I do read them, and they do mean a lot to me. As for this assignment, it truly was a great experience. I never really expressed my feelings/thoughts into words. It was usually music - so that was a change. A change for the better I say! Well adios amigos. Take care and God bless!
Quote of the day:
“There are no failures - just experiences and your reactions to them.”
-Tom Krause
Monday, April 26, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Tuesday 4-20-2010
Yesterday, I volunteered at the late shift so I was too tired to blog last night when I got home.
Cherie needed someone to fill in the afternoon time slot and since the morning was going to be slow anyways, I decided to volunteer in the afternoon. I've been getting little sleep lately and I feel that its been affecting my productivity. Though I tried not to show my tiredness, I can't help but think that my fatigue was showing. One of the patients even asked ME if I was doing okay.
I suppose its just that time of the year. I've been going through a lot of personal things as of late...and all these struggles appear to be stacking up, one on top of the other. The deaths...pressure of graduating...thoughts of what I am to do after I graduate...its becoming almost too much to bare.
Volunteering was good though. It gave me time to focus on something else besides these other things. When I'm in the clinic, the patient comes first so I devote most, if not all, of my attention to him. As for my personal problems, all I can do is keep my faith up high. I know I am do it; I just have to be patient and trust that the time will come.
Quote of the day:
"Be Awesome"
- Madalena Truong
Cherie needed someone to fill in the afternoon time slot and since the morning was going to be slow anyways, I decided to volunteer in the afternoon. I've been getting little sleep lately and I feel that its been affecting my productivity. Though I tried not to show my tiredness, I can't help but think that my fatigue was showing. One of the patients even asked ME if I was doing okay.
I suppose its just that time of the year. I've been going through a lot of personal things as of late...and all these struggles appear to be stacking up, one on top of the other. The deaths...pressure of graduating...thoughts of what I am to do after I graduate...its becoming almost too much to bare.
Volunteering was good though. It gave me time to focus on something else besides these other things. When I'm in the clinic, the patient comes first so I devote most, if not all, of my attention to him. As for my personal problems, all I can do is keep my faith up high. I know I am do it; I just have to be patient and trust that the time will come.
Quote of the day:
"Be Awesome"
- Madalena Truong
Monday, April 12, 2010
Monday 4-12-2010
I didn't come in to volunteer today. I got struck with the flu over the weekend. That, plus Peter's funeral, made it quite the weekend. I'm still feeling the effects of the sickness right now actually. My head is heavy, my back is aching, and I'm feeling a big off.
But, there's no time to rest! Graduation is approaching. Gotta. Keep. Pushing.
Sorry for the post being so short - not really feeling that well. But! I will still have the quote of the day:
"Never give up hope, its what keeps us going."
- Michael Pham :]
But, there's no time to rest! Graduation is approaching. Gotta. Keep. Pushing.
Sorry for the post being so short - not really feeling that well. But! I will still have the quote of the day:
"Never give up hope, its what keeps us going."
- Michael Pham :]
Monday, April 5, 2010
Monday 4-5-2010
Hey world...
I'm having mixed emotions right now. Today was a fine day of volunteering. Checking in the patients went well and they were cooperating finely. My work out was put to the test today as I had to carry boxes around the clinic. And I was even called "professor" today - thats a new one.
I try to keep myself busy but I can't stop thinking about it. Life is such a precious and fragile thing. All it takes is one second, and that makes all the difference. Don't ever pass up on the chance to catch up with a friend. I'm sorry I lost touch with you Peter. I'm sorry...I could have tried harder. We were so close, I thought I had all the time in the world to catch up with you. How sadly mistaken was I? Knowing you though, you would just laugh it off...make a joke...and we'd hug it out. I know you're in a better place now but I can't help feeling heartbroken. I'm selfish. I still can't believe that you are gone. Maybe its not that I can't believe it, but I don't want to believe it. I love you, man. I wish I told you this more often. You always joked that we'd be with each other again when we get into med school. I don't know about me, but I always knew you could do it. I never got to congratulate you. I'm so freaking proud of you Peter. You would have been one of the finest, I'm sure. Take it easy my friend. Say Hi to James for me.
Quote of the day:
"Life is a funny thing; our mark on this world is often times not made evident until our deaths, yet it depends entirely on what we did while alive."
- Karl Jun
I'm having mixed emotions right now. Today was a fine day of volunteering. Checking in the patients went well and they were cooperating finely. My work out was put to the test today as I had to carry boxes around the clinic. And I was even called "professor" today - thats a new one.
I try to keep myself busy but I can't stop thinking about it. Life is such a precious and fragile thing. All it takes is one second, and that makes all the difference. Don't ever pass up on the chance to catch up with a friend. I'm sorry I lost touch with you Peter. I'm sorry...I could have tried harder. We were so close, I thought I had all the time in the world to catch up with you. How sadly mistaken was I? Knowing you though, you would just laugh it off...make a joke...and we'd hug it out. I know you're in a better place now but I can't help feeling heartbroken. I'm selfish. I still can't believe that you are gone. Maybe its not that I can't believe it, but I don't want to believe it. I love you, man. I wish I told you this more often. You always joked that we'd be with each other again when we get into med school. I don't know about me, but I always knew you could do it. I never got to congratulate you. I'm so freaking proud of you Peter. You would have been one of the finest, I'm sure. Take it easy my friend. Say Hi to James for me.
Quote of the day:
"Life is a funny thing; our mark on this world is often times not made evident until our deaths, yet it depends entirely on what we did while alive."
- Karl Jun
Monday, March 29, 2010
3-29-2010
Hi there :]
Smooth...easy...nice Monday. The day started off with me not wanting to get out of bed because I only got 3 hours of sleep. So because of that, I was a bit sluggish in the morning but I am in good spirits now. There is something about helping others and knowing you are making a difference in their lives, that can uplift even the grumpiest person.
The nurse practitioner told me to tell walk-in patients that they could not be seen today due to the fact that we only had one provider and she had a busy schedule. They were getting sad and upset because for most of them, this was the only time they could be seen. Even though they don't have much, it is important to remember that these men and women have lives and schedules too. And its amazing how much a little consulting can do. I convinced the nurse practitioner to squeeze in a couple of patients, and I explained to the patients that if they could bare with us for a little bit, we just might see them. In the end, about 7 walk-in patients were seen - and boy did they thank me. Honestly, they should be thanking the provider. She was constantly seeing patients one after another, without breaks, just so she could treat as many as she could before lunch. That type of dedication is admirable and inspirational.
So today's quote of the day is belongs to her:
“I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.”
- Frank Lloyd Wright
Smooth...easy...nice Monday. The day started off with me not wanting to get out of bed because I only got 3 hours of sleep. So because of that, I was a bit sluggish in the morning but I am in good spirits now. There is something about helping others and knowing you are making a difference in their lives, that can uplift even the grumpiest person.
The nurse practitioner told me to tell walk-in patients that they could not be seen today due to the fact that we only had one provider and she had a busy schedule. They were getting sad and upset because for most of them, this was the only time they could be seen. Even though they don't have much, it is important to remember that these men and women have lives and schedules too. And its amazing how much a little consulting can do. I convinced the nurse practitioner to squeeze in a couple of patients, and I explained to the patients that if they could bare with us for a little bit, we just might see them. In the end, about 7 walk-in patients were seen - and boy did they thank me. Honestly, they should be thanking the provider. She was constantly seeing patients one after another, without breaks, just so she could treat as many as she could before lunch. That type of dedication is admirable and inspirational.
So today's quote of the day is belongs to her:
“I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.”
- Frank Lloyd Wright
Monday, March 22, 2010
Monday 3-22-2010
Guess who's back!
What a beautiful morning! I was able to get up without any complications, my sickness is gone (for the most part), traffic was not a problem, and volunteering was a breeze!
Even though there was a lot of patients that needed to be seen, everything went by smoothly. I think it was because of the nice weather that got people in the right spirits. Everyone was friendly, and very patient. When people are patient, it makes things less hectic and avoids unnecessary confrontations. There was a man today that had an appointment with the psychiatrist at 11:30AM. He was already in the waiting area at 8:30AM waiting because he did want to miss his appointment. When it was past 11:30AM, I had to tell him that the psychiatrist would not be able to see him until 1:00PM. I was afraid he would become upset with the situation but he looked at me and smiled, saying that it was fine. I apologized for his inconvenience, but he said not to worry about it, that he was just thankful for our help, and that everything happens for a reason.
That got me thinking about everything that has happened in my life. All of the good and bad things that have occurred in my life have made me the person who I am today. It looks as if I might not be able to get into medical school this year, but I should not be too down about it. Like the man said, everything happens for a reason. All I can do is trust that things will work out for the best, and do all I can to ensure so.
Quote of the day:
"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."
- Maria Robinson
What a beautiful morning! I was able to get up without any complications, my sickness is gone (for the most part), traffic was not a problem, and volunteering was a breeze!
Even though there was a lot of patients that needed to be seen, everything went by smoothly. I think it was because of the nice weather that got people in the right spirits. Everyone was friendly, and very patient. When people are patient, it makes things less hectic and avoids unnecessary confrontations. There was a man today that had an appointment with the psychiatrist at 11:30AM. He was already in the waiting area at 8:30AM waiting because he did want to miss his appointment. When it was past 11:30AM, I had to tell him that the psychiatrist would not be able to see him until 1:00PM. I was afraid he would become upset with the situation but he looked at me and smiled, saying that it was fine. I apologized for his inconvenience, but he said not to worry about it, that he was just thankful for our help, and that everything happens for a reason.
That got me thinking about everything that has happened in my life. All of the good and bad things that have occurred in my life have made me the person who I am today. It looks as if I might not be able to get into medical school this year, but I should not be too down about it. Like the man said, everything happens for a reason. All I can do is trust that things will work out for the best, and do all I can to ensure so.
Quote of the day:
"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."
- Maria Robinson
Monday, March 15, 2010
Monday 3-15-2010
Let it snow! I am not volunteering this week due to me vacationing in Durango, Colorado! I am pretty bruised and banged up right now, but it is totally worth it. The only negative thing about this trip is that it had to happen during day lights savings time...so I lost an hour of play time! ]:
Its hard to escape medicine and science even when you are trying to have fun. The air up here is pretty thin and it takes some getting used to. I noticed that my heart rate was increased and I was often thirsty. I took this opportunity to find out why this was happening and it turns out that it is a side effect of being at a high altitude. That is because at high altitudes, the oxygen content in our blood is decreased. The best advice given to me was to keep my body hydrated and take deep breathes.
I am actually experiencing a headache right now but I think it is because of my body being exhausted from two days of snowboarding. I hate to admit it but I am looking forward to going back home, going to school, and volunteering again.
Quote of the day:
"There's no place like home."
- John Howard Payne
Its hard to escape medicine and science even when you are trying to have fun. The air up here is pretty thin and it takes some getting used to. I noticed that my heart rate was increased and I was often thirsty. I took this opportunity to find out why this was happening and it turns out that it is a side effect of being at a high altitude. That is because at high altitudes, the oxygen content in our blood is decreased. The best advice given to me was to keep my body hydrated and take deep breathes.
I am actually experiencing a headache right now but I think it is because of my body being exhausted from two days of snowboarding. I hate to admit it but I am looking forward to going back home, going to school, and volunteering again.
Quote of the day:
"There's no place like home."
- John Howard Payne
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Monday 3-8-2010
Terrible Monday! It is the first day of the week before spring break which means it is test week...and to make matters worse, it is raining!
I left a little earlier today because I had a test to study for but I did something interesting before I left. I actually got to be in the room while the nurse practitioner was seeing patient today. Yolanda was giving a male patient a general physical examination and since she is a female, I had to be in there with her while she was administering the tests. One would of thought the situation would be awkward but it was far from it. My motto is that it isn't awkward unless you make it awkward. It actually turned out educational. I learned the basic steps to giving a physical. First you check the general appearances. You look for any lesions, and you check their color and warmth of the patient. Then you go and check their respiratory system, making sure there is not any cardiac abnormalities. When the doctor is checking the testicles, he is actually checking the muscles behind it to check for hernia. I never knew this so I found this very helpful.
Sorry to leave it short but I have to study!
Quote of the day:
A wise doctor does not mutter incantations over a sore that needs the knife.
- Sophocles
I left a little earlier today because I had a test to study for but I did something interesting before I left. I actually got to be in the room while the nurse practitioner was seeing patient today. Yolanda was giving a male patient a general physical examination and since she is a female, I had to be in there with her while she was administering the tests. One would of thought the situation would be awkward but it was far from it. My motto is that it isn't awkward unless you make it awkward. It actually turned out educational. I learned the basic steps to giving a physical. First you check the general appearances. You look for any lesions, and you check their color and warmth of the patient. Then you go and check their respiratory system, making sure there is not any cardiac abnormalities. When the doctor is checking the testicles, he is actually checking the muscles behind it to check for hernia. I never knew this so I found this very helpful.
Sorry to leave it short but I have to study!
Quote of the day:
A wise doctor does not mutter incantations over a sore that needs the knife.
- Sophocles
Monday, March 1, 2010
Monday 3-1-2010
So it has been a couple of weeks since I last volunteered. The clinic was closed due to various reasons but I was more than ready to be back!
I came in today expecting to pick up where I left off but the whole staff changed! I found out that the medical assistant and the family nurse practitioner were on maternity leave and there were a couple of new interns inside the clinic. With that said, and the clinic host missing today, I worked the host desk again. Things were random today because of the rain so there would be moments when the clinic was empty and there were others when the clinic was buzzing with people. Sometimes, I forget how humbling this opportunity is.
Around 10:30 A.M. everyday, the cafeteria man from downstairs brings up a cart filled with plates of food for the patients that are waiting in the clinic. Each day has a different meal, and each patient must have a lunch ticket in order to receive a plate. Well today, there was a man in his mid thirties or late forties, that wanted to eat but did not have a ticket. A fragile old woman, that could possibly be in her seventies, pushed herself out of her chair, wobbled over to the cart, and got a tray of food only to give it to the man. The man realized what she was doing and met her halfway, thanking her and making sure she did not want to eat. She smiled and said "Son, you'll need it more than I do." I am not sure what she meant by this, but the overall gesture was heartwarming. These men and women, that have so little, are willing to share with one another the little that they have.
When they were eating, all I could hear was how good and wonderful the food was. The meal was simply garlic bread, spaghetti sauce, with a salad but one could have easily mistaken it for a five star meal from all the commotion that they were making. I have never heard of anyone complaining about the food and it really goes to show how these people are not only willing to share the little that they have with one another, but they appreciate every bit of it. Being around such an atmosphere really helps me reflect upon myself and it allows me appreciate the gifts in my life.
Quote of the day:
"Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity."
- Voltaire
I came in today expecting to pick up where I left off but the whole staff changed! I found out that the medical assistant and the family nurse practitioner were on maternity leave and there were a couple of new interns inside the clinic. With that said, and the clinic host missing today, I worked the host desk again. Things were random today because of the rain so there would be moments when the clinic was empty and there were others when the clinic was buzzing with people. Sometimes, I forget how humbling this opportunity is.
Around 10:30 A.M. everyday, the cafeteria man from downstairs brings up a cart filled with plates of food for the patients that are waiting in the clinic. Each day has a different meal, and each patient must have a lunch ticket in order to receive a plate. Well today, there was a man in his mid thirties or late forties, that wanted to eat but did not have a ticket. A fragile old woman, that could possibly be in her seventies, pushed herself out of her chair, wobbled over to the cart, and got a tray of food only to give it to the man. The man realized what she was doing and met her halfway, thanking her and making sure she did not want to eat. She smiled and said "Son, you'll need it more than I do." I am not sure what she meant by this, but the overall gesture was heartwarming. These men and women, that have so little, are willing to share with one another the little that they have.
When they were eating, all I could hear was how good and wonderful the food was. The meal was simply garlic bread, spaghetti sauce, with a salad but one could have easily mistaken it for a five star meal from all the commotion that they were making. I have never heard of anyone complaining about the food and it really goes to show how these people are not only willing to share the little that they have with one another, but they appreciate every bit of it. Being around such an atmosphere really helps me reflect upon myself and it allows me appreciate the gifts in my life.
Quote of the day:
"Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity."
- Voltaire
Monday, February 8, 2010
Monday 2-8-2010
Beautiful day so far! The day could not have started off any better!
I came into the clinic today to find out that the clinic host was not volunteering today. So I had to fill his position as well as perform my duties as a medical assistant. It was not so bad because I ended up spending most of the time talking about the Super Bowl with the patients. Its pretty remarkable how people can find such comfort in simple things like a football game, and they are able to forget about their discomforts. They make do with the little that they have, and they hardly complain!
Though there was one lady who became very impatient. It did not help her case when she was told that she would not receive dental treatment because she had a Gold Card. Apparently the dental manager downstairs does not assist patients that have a Gold Card. I'm not too sure what exactly is a Gold Card is or how one receives one, but I am pretty sure it is a government funded program.
This reminds me of the discussions that we recently had in my Bioethics class. To make a long story short, the debate on whether to have the government interfere with health care or how much the government should have a say is, and has always been, a topic of debate. Its hard to please the general public because the general public is filled with people of different cultural backgrounds and ideologies. Even though you want to stay away from politics, this type of issue touches home if you're interested in the medical field.
Quote of the day:
If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it’s free.
- P.J. O’Rourke
I came into the clinic today to find out that the clinic host was not volunteering today. So I had to fill his position as well as perform my duties as a medical assistant. It was not so bad because I ended up spending most of the time talking about the Super Bowl with the patients. Its pretty remarkable how people can find such comfort in simple things like a football game, and they are able to forget about their discomforts. They make do with the little that they have, and they hardly complain!
Though there was one lady who became very impatient. It did not help her case when she was told that she would not receive dental treatment because she had a Gold Card. Apparently the dental manager downstairs does not assist patients that have a Gold Card. I'm not too sure what exactly is a Gold Card is or how one receives one, but I am pretty sure it is a government funded program.
This reminds me of the discussions that we recently had in my Bioethics class. To make a long story short, the debate on whether to have the government interfere with health care or how much the government should have a say is, and has always been, a topic of debate. Its hard to please the general public because the general public is filled with people of different cultural backgrounds and ideologies. Even though you want to stay away from politics, this type of issue touches home if you're interested in the medical field.
Quote of the day:
If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it’s free.
- P.J. O’Rourke
Monday, February 1, 2010
Monday 2-1-2010
Today was a slow day. Usually Mondays are quite busy but since it is the first of the month, I think the homeless are all lined up elsewhere trying to get in a shelter or something. Plus today was very cold and wet...
There were appointments and some walk-ins that were seen though. As a medical assistant for the Houston Healthcare for the Homeless clinic, my volunteer position requires me to take in patients and prep them to be seen by the nurse practitioner or the doctor. I take their vitals and input it into the electronic database. There is a lot of patient interaction with my position, so that is the part that I enjoy most when I volunteer. I was a clinic host for a few months and I enjoyed doing that as well because I got to hear their stories and try to make them feel comfortable as they wait to be seen. But as a medical assistant, things are done on a much more personal level. At this level, communication is very important. I must be able to understand the patient in order to relay it to the doctor, and I must be able to assure the patient that their concerns will be addressed.
So as I was checking patients in, I got mistaken for a doctor again. I don't mind at all, but it just reminds me that my position requires a lot of responsibility. Some of these people are at the lowest points in their life and they are trying to turn it around. They just need help and they trust you to provide them with it. Of course, I assure them that I am just here to get their vitals and that the doctor will be with them shortly...but this further fuels my motivation to one day be that doctor that can give them this help. We laugh it off and I take down a description on why he/she is at the clinic today. Most of the patients seen today were here for a dental screening while those that had an appointment were just here for follow-ups.
A patient that wants to get dental work done downstairs must come up to the medical clinic and get a dental screening. The doctor or the nurse practitioner makes sure that the patient is healthy enough to get dental work done to him, and he makes sure that the patient is medically sound so that the dentist does not get harmed as well.
Patients are always asking why they have to go see the doctor and why they can't just go see the dentist so I had to explain to several patients today how everything is connected. Once again, this shows how much communication is very important at this position. This brings me to the quote of the day:
"Communication - the human connection - is the key to personal and career success."
- Paul J. Meyer
until next time,
Michael Pham
There were appointments and some walk-ins that were seen though. As a medical assistant for the Houston Healthcare for the Homeless clinic, my volunteer position requires me to take in patients and prep them to be seen by the nurse practitioner or the doctor. I take their vitals and input it into the electronic database. There is a lot of patient interaction with my position, so that is the part that I enjoy most when I volunteer. I was a clinic host for a few months and I enjoyed doing that as well because I got to hear their stories and try to make them feel comfortable as they wait to be seen. But as a medical assistant, things are done on a much more personal level. At this level, communication is very important. I must be able to understand the patient in order to relay it to the doctor, and I must be able to assure the patient that their concerns will be addressed.
So as I was checking patients in, I got mistaken for a doctor again. I don't mind at all, but it just reminds me that my position requires a lot of responsibility. Some of these people are at the lowest points in their life and they are trying to turn it around. They just need help and they trust you to provide them with it. Of course, I assure them that I am just here to get their vitals and that the doctor will be with them shortly...but this further fuels my motivation to one day be that doctor that can give them this help. We laugh it off and I take down a description on why he/she is at the clinic today. Most of the patients seen today were here for a dental screening while those that had an appointment were just here for follow-ups.
A patient that wants to get dental work done downstairs must come up to the medical clinic and get a dental screening. The doctor or the nurse practitioner makes sure that the patient is healthy enough to get dental work done to him, and he makes sure that the patient is medically sound so that the dentist does not get harmed as well.
Patients are always asking why they have to go see the doctor and why they can't just go see the dentist so I had to explain to several patients today how everything is connected. Once again, this shows how much communication is very important at this position. This brings me to the quote of the day:
"Communication - the human connection - is the key to personal and career success."
- Paul J. Meyer
until next time,
Michael Pham
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