I started my first day on the wards today! It took a little while because I had to meet with the Chief of Pediatrics first and he had other engagements until yesterday.
I don't have a defined role here, which is a bit frustrating because I want to be helpful and not get in the way. The difficulty is that I am not really needed so trying to do independent work really just creates more work for others.
It also took a long time for me to explain who I was and my qualifications and why I was there. Though I kept telling everyone I am from the USA, they all thought I was from India, which complicated the situation more.
In Sri Lanka their medical system is as follows (or so I gathered from multiple discussions): they do 5 years of medical school (MBBS not MD) after high school. Then they do an intern year, which consists of 6months of either medicine or pediatrics and then 6 months of either surgery or ob/gyn. They can start practicing after this year if they want. But many continue to specialize, which consists of two years (I think 2 but maybe more in other specialties) of being a registrar (our equivalent of resident). Then if they want to get an MD they must do this two step process that I haven't quite figures out but it involves exams, a thesis, and spending a year training in the US or UK. So as you can tell it takes a while to explain what I am equivalent to in this scheme of things.
Nonetheless, I am on a mission to learn! And saw some pretty interesting cases of Dengue, measles complicated by pneumonia, SSSS, and post-strep glomerulonephritis complicated by heart failure. And this was just one day! I also saw lots of cases of bronchiolitis and many diarrheal illness from rotavirus and some salmonella. I also saw a very liberal use of antibiotics, which I have also noted in India. I was a bit perturbed by this especially as sometimes the antibiotics did not quite make sense. Maybe there is something I am missing that leads them to be so liberal with antibiotics; I am not sure but I will try to find out.
Anyways, enough boring medical talk. Here are some more pictures. Tomorrow I will post pictures of my room and other such exciting things. Right now it's pouring: I love the monsoon rains!
I don't have a defined role here, which is a bit frustrating because I want to be helpful and not get in the way. The difficulty is that I am not really needed so trying to do independent work really just creates more work for others.
It also took a long time for me to explain who I was and my qualifications and why I was there. Though I kept telling everyone I am from the USA, they all thought I was from India, which complicated the situation more.
In Sri Lanka their medical system is as follows (or so I gathered from multiple discussions): they do 5 years of medical school (MBBS not MD) after high school. Then they do an intern year, which consists of 6months of either medicine or pediatrics and then 6 months of either surgery or ob/gyn. They can start practicing after this year if they want. But many continue to specialize, which consists of two years (I think 2 but maybe more in other specialties) of being a registrar (our equivalent of resident). Then if they want to get an MD they must do this two step process that I haven't quite figures out but it involves exams, a thesis, and spending a year training in the US or UK. So as you can tell it takes a while to explain what I am equivalent to in this scheme of things.
Nonetheless, I am on a mission to learn! And saw some pretty interesting cases of Dengue, measles complicated by pneumonia, SSSS, and post-strep glomerulonephritis complicated by heart failure. And this was just one day! I also saw lots of cases of bronchiolitis and many diarrheal illness from rotavirus and some salmonella. I also saw a very liberal use of antibiotics, which I have also noted in India. I was a bit perturbed by this especially as sometimes the antibiotics did not quite make sense. Maybe there is something I am missing that leads them to be so liberal with antibiotics; I am not sure but I will try to find out.
Anyways, enough boring medical talk. Here are some more pictures. Tomorrow I will post pictures of my room and other such exciting things. Right now it's pouring: I love the monsoon rains!
A great place to sit and read and relax!
A couple trying to take wedding pictures at the fort and a crowd of people surrounding them
Cricket!
Kites!
Yayyyy! 1) You made it safely 2) You got your luggage (after some difficulties) 3) You started your BLOG!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe resort you are staying at looks amazing. Love the gardens and the relaxing open areas. What an awesome place to watch the monsoon rains from and read a book! The food also looks delicious. is it?!
And it seems like you already saw a lot of interesting things on the wards in just one day. Sounds like a great start of a new adventure. Keep us posted as you figure out the antibiotic theory. :)