Facing the SCOTUS ACA decision

I am a “non traditional” first year medical student. I am not from a “privileged” family. My husband has also been unable to receive care for his medical condition despite going through all the appropriate appeals to the insurance company with physician support for medical necessity. I have a family and will come out of medical school with over 200k in debt. The federal subsidized loans are being taken away from all medical students as of July, increasing our debt load. This year’s match was very tough. There were hundreds of fourth years competing for 8 remaining pediatric residency spots in the scramble, meaning hundreds of potential primary care physicians are unable to receive training in the field this year. In the face of decreasing medicare funding, many residency programs are letting residency spots go unfilled. I know many people in the public view docs as rich country clubers, but the vast majority of docs I have encountered are generous caring chevy-driving members of the community. I am disheartened looking at the future of medicine in the US without the ACA. Currently we are cutting care and seriously threatening medical training. How can we possibly hope to take care of an ever expanding and aging population? I just wonder wonder why the individual mandate is being met with such opposition. The fine for not carrying insurance would only be $95 if a person wanted to opt out. Yet, if that same person was in a vehicle crash, s/he would still be treated when brought to the ED due to EMTALA. The physicians are not the enemy. I don’t need to nor do I expect to be wealthy. I hope to be able to pay back my loans, provide for my family, and enjoy my work. I cannot imagine doctors looking at dying patients and withholding treatment if they had the power and resources available. As students, we are constantly being taught to practice “evidence-based medicine”, but I wonder where the evidence is supporting patients with a treatable cancer dying without treatment. How has the policy of medicine strayed so far from the principles. I know I am a fresh med student idealist, but just have hope for the future and I shudder to think what may come when we continue to turn our backs on our neighbors.

A reply to another mom med student hopeful

I am a 31 yo mother of a toddler and MS1. I too worked in finance in my "previous life". I didn't hate it, the hours and work were intense, but most of the time, I enjoyed the work enough. What I couldn't shake was that in every quiet moment, my mind went back to medicine. When I was looking at biotech companies for my private equity firm, I got caught up in the science rather than the finance. For several years, I just stuffed these feelings, telling myself that I was too far down this path to change my career. After I had my son though, I just couldn't ignore it anymore. I would never advise him to settle, how could I? It was risky, I could get rejected, waste time and money, etc, but I could not accept not giving it a try. I spent a year preparing, took the MCATs, applied, and now I am here. I couldn't be happier. Ultimately, I hope that I will be a good example for son and proud of who I am.

My week as a patient

A week ago, I was sent to the ED after several days of an illness. I remained in the university hospital for 5 days, was discharged, only to be sent to ED again two days later by my PCP. Thankfully, my new dear fellow med student friend joined me, so my hubby could take care of our little man. I learned a few things during this adventure. - All patients 21 and under go to the pediatric ED. Yes, imagine all the girls in matching tee shirts in the kid's area during rush week sitting next to the actual kids. - A 21 month old will zero in on the one thing he can't play with, namely mommie's IV. - You and your spouse's cell phones will fail just when you need them the most. - Stand up for yourself. You may be told you had two CT scans, but you know you only had one. After all, you had a room full of visitors forntwo hours around time this supposed scan took place. P.S. Said visitors are credible. You also worked in radiology QA, and know that these mixups with images happen more often than they should. you should notnhave to know either of these things of course to get the correct scan results. - When grumpy patients threaten the ED waiting room staff with "just leaving with a bandaid if I am not seen right this minute", their stock answer is "well, you are a grownup and you can do what you want.". This also works if your friend is high and "freaking out" and you are not sure if you should bring him in or not. - You should not ask the kind young EM resident how far into his residency he is right before begins your lumbar puncture, especially when the answer is two months. This results in nervous resident, one bloody tap, and four misses before the wonderful attending has pity on me and takes over. - Seriously though, I am truly grateful for my friend who sat with me all night, held my hand, distracted me, and watched me puke through the most of the tap. I also greatly admire the attending who was truly compassionate, saying "he was there to serve" and he lived up to his words. he told the resident that he believed in cleaning up his own messes rather than leaving them for the nurses. He proceeded to wash the surgical scrub off my back, which was certainly something I never expected him to do, but showed great care. He also was incredibly patient and sensitive to my pain. After several attempts at the LP, I was in a lot of pain, and he assured me this was on my timeframe, that I could take a break and they could allow me to change positions, even though this meant preparing the entire sterile field. These small gestures really helped me get through the procedure, and I admire him for his patience and bedside manner. He balanced teaching his resident and caring for me. I know it must be easy to become jaded as an EM doc, but I am grateful this physician is on staff at our hospital, and I look forward to having the opportunity to learn from him as a student, now that I have learned from him as a patient. Most of all, I am incredibly thankful for my wonderful husband who has taken such great care of our son and me during this whole ordeal. Thanks for everything!

Baby giggles

I love taking LG (my little guy) out now that he can really interact with people. He cracks up at everything and flirts with everyone. I noticed today at the farmers market, that every time he laughed, everyone around started cracking up too. His laugh always makes me smile, but I am a bit biased. I think everyone should get a daily dose of baby giggles. It would be great if you could have baby giggles on demand when you are having a rough day.

Baby giggles: 100% organic. Side effects include uncontrollable smiles, ab exercise, and bursts of joy. Highly contagious.

Definitely should be doctors' orders!

Med school....for what?

It has been really exciting sharing the news that I will be attending medical school with the people in our lives. I was surprised the numbers of times the conversation goes something like this:

Jane: Anything new?
Me: I will be started to medical school soon.
Jane: Congrats! For what?
Me: I am not sure what I want to specialize in.
Jane: Do you want to be a nurse?
Me: (not sure how to answer) to be a doctor.
Jane: Wow! You must be smart
Me: Thanks, I am really excited.

I greatly appreciate everyone's support and kind words. I am just a little surprised by the uncertainty and sheer surprise people show when I clarify that I want to be a physician. Do people go to medical school for anything else? I am sure it is just semantics, but somewhere in the back of my mind, I wonder why it is so surprising? Nursing and all health professions are wonderful vocations, but I find it interesting that I evidently don't exude med studentness... It must be the dark circles, sweats and pony tail. Wait, I thought that was med student uniform!

Accepted!

Wow, what seems like the end of a long journey has officially become the beginning of my time as a medical student in the Class of 2015! I finally received the email beginning with "it is our pleasure to inform you..." rather than "we regret to inform you....". I had to read it several times to make sure there were no "regrets" snuck in anywhere. I feel incredible relief, but it did take a few days to really sink in and begin to feel real. I think I had prepared myself for this never to happen. It seems melodramatic, but I am officially in the "non traditional" category, being an oldie at 30. I feel like I am about 12 on many days, so I guess it averages out to mid twenties. Yes, I pursued medicine right out of college. Yes, I took a break. Yes, I have a little boy, and I am just starting med school this summer. I couldn't be more excited. Moreover, I know I am truly ready to jump on this crazy train and enjoy the ride.