The international evening a couple nights ago was fun. Some women performed a traditional south Indian dance for us and it was cool. I met some of the other students and we ate some really good vanilla ice cream. :)
The next day I went to the labor room. The CMC hospital has about 10,000-12,000 deliveries per year and is basically two large rooms, connected by a nursery in the middle, labelled "low risk" and "high risk."
Women are laboring and giving birth merely a few feet away from each other behind green sheets for "privacy." This place is nothing like the states. Epidurals are only given if you can afford them and routine pain medications are not given unless absolutely necessary.
I met more of the residents and the intern rotating on labor room. Here the students receive a M.B B.S (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery), which is equivalent to an M.D. for us. They go straight from high school into medical school which is 41/2 years. After graduation they do a one year internship where they rotate through all the specialities, (kind-of like third year for us but with a lot more responsibility) and then do a residency in the speciality of their choice for three years. Even general surgery is three years!
The first thing I saw was a C-section. We had to wear these shoe covers called, "over shoes" and a blue cap similar to the one we wear back home. I was surprised that the OR was very similar to the UH OR. The only difference was it was a lot hotter under my face mask and the surgerons don't protect their eyes with face shields. Also, the skin closure was a mattress vs. a subcuticular. It was cool to compare the differences.
Later on in the day we went back to the labor room and during a delivery all you hear from the nurses is, "Muku Ma!" (Which means push lady!) There are no stir-ups, so the women literally have their baby right on the bed. I also saw two mediolateral episotomies vs. the midline ones we do more in the states. The intern said they prefer the latter here because of the risk of fourth degree tears with midline ones.
Today I was able to meet the rest of my OG (what they call OB/GYN here) team, which is OG I. They were all very nice. We met with Dr. Verghese and before rounding we sang Christian songs and did a daily reading out of a scripture book. I had never done that before at work, so it was a cool experience. We also talked about ITP in pregnancy and then did teaching rounds on three different floors to visit the OG I patients, but that was of course after our coffee break. I noticed here that around 10am everyone goes and drinks coffee or lime juice and they even have a team coffee fund! I think I'm starting to like this place. :)
On rounds I saw anything from women with pre-eclampsia to hypothyroidism to a post-op myomectomy. They do not have separate obstetrical and gyn teams like in the states. Each team has both types of patients and we round on everyone at the same time. It was interesting that during every presentation the speaker states the patients name, age and martial status. Dr. Verghese told me it is very important here to know martial status because no pelvic exam can be performed on a woman unless she is married, the family gives specific instructions to do so or if she is never going to get married.
I am definitely enjoying my OG experience here. I have noticed many differences yet many similarities as well. Dr. Verghese is a great teacher and she definitely explains things in a way that integrates the clinical and basic sciences aspects of a particular disease.
After work we visited our friend the tailor who sews sleeves on shirts and puts strings in the waist of pants. I guess for simplicity of mass production, the sleeves are not added on shirts when you buy them and you have to add string to pants to act as a knot so they don't fall off.
I'm thinking I might change my schedule to do internal medicine the second week instead of OG again. I really am enjoying my time here and I have OG clinic tomorrow so I should see some interesting things.
Here is a picture of me in one of my salwar kameez outfits!
The next day I went to the labor room. The CMC hospital has about 10,000-12,000 deliveries per year and is basically two large rooms, connected by a nursery in the middle, labelled "low risk" and "high risk."
Women are laboring and giving birth merely a few feet away from each other behind green sheets for "privacy." This place is nothing like the states. Epidurals are only given if you can afford them and routine pain medications are not given unless absolutely necessary.
I met more of the residents and the intern rotating on labor room. Here the students receive a M.B B.S (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery), which is equivalent to an M.D. for us. They go straight from high school into medical school which is 41/2 years. After graduation they do a one year internship where they rotate through all the specialities, (kind-of like third year for us but with a lot more responsibility) and then do a residency in the speciality of their choice for three years. Even general surgery is three years!The first thing I saw was a C-section. We had to wear these shoe covers called, "over shoes" and a blue cap similar to the one we wear back home. I was surprised that the OR was very similar to the UH OR. The only difference was it was a lot hotter under my face mask and the surgerons don't protect their eyes with face shields. Also, the skin closure was a mattress vs. a subcuticular. It was cool to compare the differences.
Later on in the day we went back to the labor room and during a delivery all you hear from the nurses is, "Muku Ma!" (Which means push lady!) There are no stir-ups, so the women literally have their baby right on the bed. I also saw two mediolateral episotomies vs. the midline ones we do more in the states. The intern said they prefer the latter here because of the risk of fourth degree tears with midline ones.
Today I was able to meet the rest of my OG (what they call OB/GYN here) team, which is OG I. They were all very nice. We met with Dr. Verghese and before rounding we sang Christian songs and did a daily reading out of a scripture book. I had never done that before at work, so it was a cool experience. We also talked about ITP in pregnancy and then did teaching rounds on three different floors to visit the OG I patients, but that was of course after our coffee break. I noticed here that around 10am everyone goes and drinks coffee or lime juice and they even have a team coffee fund! I think I'm starting to like this place. :)
On rounds I saw anything from women with pre-eclampsia to hypothyroidism to a post-op myomectomy. They do not have separate obstetrical and gyn teams like in the states. Each team has both types of patients and we round on everyone at the same time. It was interesting that during every presentation the speaker states the patients name, age and martial status. Dr. Verghese told me it is very important here to know martial status because no pelvic exam can be performed on a woman unless she is married, the family gives specific instructions to do so or if she is never going to get married.
I am definitely enjoying my OG experience here. I have noticed many differences yet many similarities as well. Dr. Verghese is a great teacher and she definitely explains things in a way that integrates the clinical and basic sciences aspects of a particular disease.
After work we visited our friend the tailor who sews sleeves on shirts and puts strings in the waist of pants. I guess for simplicity of mass production, the sleeves are not added on shirts when you buy them and you have to add string to pants to act as a knot so they don't fall off.
I'm thinking I might change my schedule to do internal medicine the second week instead of OG again. I really am enjoying my time here and I have OG clinic tomorrow so I should see some interesting things.
Here is a picture of me in one of my salwar kameez outfits!
2 comments:
We are not chinese but have many rat friends in chino bags with read eyes and white capes. So don't forget 2008 is the Year of the Rat,which is also known by its former name of Wu Zi.
Ay char is so funny huh. I know that comment made you crack up. See no distance can take us away from 3214 Carlson estreet.
Love always Tia Mage
Post a Comment