2019 is here. I started my year by doing an Urgent Care shift on New Years Day. It was not quite as busy as I expected; most of the shifts I've done around the holidays were high-volume, with lots of flu, other respiratory infections, and lacerations sustained while cooking holiday meals. New Years Day was a little slower on the illnesses, but the acuity of the injuries was high. That's what happens when alcohol is a big part of celebrating a holiday, I guess- injuries fro

It's suddenly really cold here! It feels like winter, and it seems like flu season is starting. Ugh- how did that happen? Not only that, but I can't stand to turn on the TV because there's a negative political ad on every other minute. Oh well- avoiding the toxicity and also getting my flu shot were all part of the plan to take care of myself. I'm trying. Some days are better than others. Trying to stay away from unnecessary drama and bad energy. How about you? The pr

Doctors are some of the most highly educated and skilled professionals in society. We spend at least seven years post college training to care for patients. We put in more hours in those years than I imagine those in any other profession do, since we work night and day, weekdays, weekends and holidays. We face life and death situations over and over and over again, building up 'mental muscle', in order to handle crisis at any turn. We learn to face all kinds of hardship a