happy days

So back to becoming a MO. I was one of the lucky ones. I manage to get into the department that I was interested in since year 4. Emergency and Trauma. YES!!!! Why?? I love the adrenaline rush, I love the shift system, I hate to see patients for too long, I hate ward rounds, I love to go home and not be disturbed by doubts and similar patients problem tomorrow. You see, after housemanship you will more or less know what you like and what is cut out for you. For me, its E&T. Bosses were nice, colleges were great. And the best of all no on calls. Hehehe…. I am the lazy kind of doctor. I good doctor but the lazy kind.

In A/E, a MO has to cover green, yellow and red zone. Personally all was find by me. The doctor is the first to see the patient and to get the initial diagnosis and to initial the primary management. That’s the challenge. You will have diagnostic challenges and management challenges. You will face with angry patients, grieving families, drunks, gang fights and etc. It’s a “colorful” place to be. You will never get bored. That’s why I choose A/E.

In my one year in A/E there were bitter sweet memories. Because A/E is not a primary medical team, it’s just a support team. Referrals are important. Correct proper referrals are vital. So there will be lots and lots of argument and disagreement among MOs and specialist. Don’t get me wrong, because there is more that one cook in the kitchen so, there are many ways to cook a chicken I guess.

List of pros in A/E
- no on calls
- can do locums
- in general earn more
- shift system
- no ward rounds
- get to be exposed to all disciplines
- not boring
- sometimes can relax when there is no patients
- you become a diagnostician (so call)
- you can have a social life

List of cons in A/E
- you will get your hands dirty
- first to touch a case (anything goes wrong somehow you are involved)
- have to deal with family members
- the front liners (it’s a disadvantage in SARS or H1N1 season)
- all hells breaks loose when there is a disaster
- you learn wide not deep
- you have to refer (its horrible if you are suck with shitty MOs on the other line)
- socially you have to make new friends cause your other colleges are working when your are not and are not when you are

Long story short, I loved A/E. Of cause again, its not all a bed of roses. Green zone can be overwhelming. And on weekends and public holidays all zones will explode. But no matter how busy you are there always a time to punch out and leave your troubles in the hospital (not to bring them home).

On a personal note, I think this was when I begin to develop the demon in me. Hmmm… all the while the demon in me was always in checked. I know how to suppress it, I know how to distract it, I know how to deal with it, I know how to ignore it. But sometimes when things go out of hand mostly work related it tends to manifest itself. Its always been swearing and swearing and swearing but that’s it. ( I think I have learned most of the words available in the Malaysian vocabulary).

I assume it’s the stress. A/E doctors need to work at a pace to clear patients as fast as they can. So the more patient pour in the faster we have to work. And work correctly, diagnose it correctly, treat it correctly. Its part of the job.

I ok with it, I liked it, I loved it.