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Adventures of a Rookie Doc
Pain is supposed to be the fifth vital sign. How we evaluate it now is just a load of hooey. There are many pain scales out there, but the main ones we use are the numerical one (rate your pain on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 being no pain, etc.), and the Baker-Wong pain scale (the one with the faces), mostly used in our pediatric patients.
No matter how... »
It’s impossible to buy gifts for my dad. So I’m going to get him a stethoscope.
Hear me out now.
This year, because I was working and my brother was in Colorado with his fiancée, we decided to do Christmas at Mardi Gras. We’re from New Orleans, and it’s been about 15 years since my brother and I were together with everyone for Mardi Gras. It’s a festive... »
I just love my grandmother. She's pretty awesome. No, sir, she does not let her oxygen tank get in the way of her casino days.
The country is getting older. People are living longer, and those Bob-Dylan-listening-peace-loving hippies are all going to be hitting the Medicare age in the next few years, if they haven't already.
In my experience, there are... »
Everyone has pet peeves. You know, silly things that drive you absolutely crazy. One of mine is that when you are trying to get out of an elevator, people are already trying to come in. People! Let the ones getting off go first, then you can get on. Geez!
After a couple of years as an attending, I have developed a few. These things have begun to grate on... »
"Is everybody having fun?" shouted Dean Wilkerson, ACEP Executive Director. Some hoots and hollers and applause emanated from the group.
No, we weren’t at the EMRA party or that totally awesome NEMPAC cocktail party that serves red and blue cocktails during election years.
It was at ACEP Council meeting.
Now, this was my fifth Council meeting,... »
I love RBTs. They are awesome. What are RBTs, you ask? OK, OK. ...Explanation forthcoming.
It’s tough to stay connected with your friends from residency. These are the people with whom you’ve shared sleepless nights and adult beverages at 8 a.m. after getting off a night shift and vented about annoying residents from consulting services. I am here to tell... »
I have come to think that the Fat Man was right. And Jo, possibly, was an idiot.
Emergency physicians are being confronted with increasing numbers of geriatric patients. Now, I love my geriatric patients. They have the most interesting stories about better and harder times alike. But I sometimes wonder if they would be healthier and happier if we didn’t do... »