Today I was in Annatto Bay. After being in Port Maria where we see tons of kids and am busy all day Annatto bay is a nice change of pace. There are 2 pediatrics trained folks consulting and a whole team of pediatric focused medical officers. I wasn't very busy but I learned a lot from rounds and from a presentation one of the interns gave about pediatric UTI. We got to discuss the standard of care for UTI here as far as imaging is concerned and I got to hear how it differs from the US and what kind of studies that have been done to inform the recommendations. I feel like I help the least here because there are so many other amazing people seeing the kids, but I'm sooo glad we come here for my education. I got to run some cases that I saw in clinic yesterday by the pediatricians and learned a lot about hospital care. They were saying they have never had to put a child with asthma on continuous or bipap or anything like that in the 8 yrs since of the peds has been working there. And the kids get better. If I had come here but not had these interactions then I would not be up to speed on the local standards so I'm grateful to have the Annatto Bay experience. I went to the Emergency area after ward rounds and saw a few really good cases.
I have seen clinic patients alone with "attending backup" at home for many months now. But this experience really helps build my confidence when no one is there to just "run things by". I have been here long enough to have some patients come back and have been pleased by the results I have seen. I'm also getting better at seeing patients faster. I'm still in awe at just how specialized it is to be a pediatrician and how valuable our knowledge base is even among very experienced practitioners. I had a really sick kid in A and E today that myself and 2 other doctors helped stabilize. I felt really good about our efforts. I was nervous but once I calmed down I realized that I know stuff lol and we worked together. There was an ER trained doc there for support and she thought we did great and just added a few recommendations.
I'm also really having fun at work. The docs and nurses are just as awesome as they are back home and its been easy to joke and have fun despite working hard. Thats like the icing on the cake. Anyone who comes from one country and practices in another abroad should have to spend at least some time with local docs learning the recommendations. It also helps build overall comfort in my opinion because you get to relate on the medicine. Its like a group of instant friends.
I have also met some wonderful kids. Kids that don't eat there vegetables and then grin at you when you tell them they should. Kids you have to negotiate to drink water instead of juice. Amazing girls who play net ball, and run track, and play soccer whose parents beam when they talk about their accomplishments. They are all impressed that I used to run the 400 meters... "the long one!" I tell people I was always getting smoked by the Jamaican girls and we make a joke about how my legs are too skinny.
I also went shopping a few days back and made some good deals. I didn't get you anything. Yes you. Nothing. I got one person one thing and then commenced to buying things that I needed/wanted for myself. Perhaps I will get you something later, but don't count on it... unless you are my grandma... in which case, Grannie your doll is on the way!
The other doc her for the month arrived yesterday and shes amazing! After my own heart and totally living the life I want to live with respect to global health stuff. Shes wise and experienced and we have such great conversations. She gives me space to reflect in our convos and inserts excellent stories. Shes also just a fun person to talk to. Although I have my favs here at the hotel, I realized how much I've been waiting to decompress with someone that knows what its like to be doing this thing, away from home, because its immensely meaningful to me. Good times.
I have also met some wonderful kids. Kids that don't eat there vegetables and then grin at you when you tell them they should. Kids you have to negotiate to drink water instead of juice. Amazing girls who play net ball, and run track, and play soccer whose parents beam when they talk about their accomplishments. They are all impressed that I used to run the 400 meters... "the long one!" I tell people I was always getting smoked by the Jamaican girls and we make a joke about how my legs are too skinny.
I also went shopping a few days back and made some good deals. I didn't get you anything. Yes you. Nothing. I got one person one thing and then commenced to buying things that I needed/wanted for myself. Perhaps I will get you something later, but don't count on it... unless you are my grandma... in which case, Grannie your doll is on the way!
The other doc her for the month arrived yesterday and shes amazing! After my own heart and totally living the life I want to live with respect to global health stuff. Shes wise and experienced and we have such great conversations. She gives me space to reflect in our convos and inserts excellent stories. Shes also just a fun person to talk to. Although I have my favs here at the hotel, I realized how much I've been waiting to decompress with someone that knows what its like to be doing this thing, away from home, because its immensely meaningful to me. Good times.
1 comment:
So you bought me what!
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