Hi everyone,
I had a really nice weekend, and things are going well. My coworkers and I went to New Haven, CT for a conference called Unite for Sight. The presentations/workshops were all about health care in rural and international clinic sites where supplies, money and manpower are scarce. I found it really inspiring, and actually picked up some ideas I can use in working with the homeless. I was really impressed with all of the different people that attended. Business people, public health workers, students, physicians, artists, journalists and professors were just some of the groups presenting and participating. I learned a lot and had a really good time with my friends. It's amazing what they've been able to do abroad and right here at home with limited funds and few people. Sometimes it's not a new vaccine or health care facility that's needed, it can be something as simple as a few horses to get medicines from one place to another.
New Haven is very pretty. We stayed in Hartford with one coworker's parents, and it was also really nice. They were very good to us - they gave us a place to sleep (all 10 of us!) and left out snacks, breakfast and coffee each day. I am so grateful.
Now that I'm home I'm getting excited for the next few weeks. My mom is coming to visit Friday and I can't wait! I have a whole itinerary planned out for us and I want to show her where I live and work. The weather has been great, the flowers are blooming and it should be beautiful. We will be going to the Common, the Public Gardens, walking parts of the Freedom Trail, the Museum of Science, the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum, and the Top of the Hub. Hopefully that's not too much stuff.
I plan to inform Colorado and Creighton of my final decision about medical school this week. I've drafted a letter and will probably mail it today. I still have three weeks before the deadline, but I've made up my mind I want to let someone else start planning the next step in their life too. I didn't get one scholarship I applied for, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for another. I should know in June. I'll keep everyone posted.
Work will be busy in the next few weeks too. I volunteered to take on a big project that's supposed to happen in May and there is still a lot to be done. We are trying to do a repeat of our quit smoking event from the fall and donations should be hard to come by. We've had a lot of events this year and I am sure our usual donors are sick of requests. I've found a couple of other vendors willing to donate though. We should have some good stuff to give away. I'll be leaning heavily on my coworkers too, since it is a large undertaking.
On the home front things are good. Liberty, the dog that lives here, was sprayed by a skunk on Sunday. She still smells and is so miserable. I want to cuddle her, but can't because I don't want to go to work smelling of skunk too. Poor little thing. Susan and Dave will keep bathing and cleaning her, but she won't like it.
That's about it from here. Hope you all are well. Love you so much!
Lynne
Monday, April 23, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
I Love Our Patients
When I started at Transitions, one of the first things I heard (and heard many times since) was to lock up all my valuables. Nurses who turn their backs for even a second find pocketbooks, medications, etc. gone. Our patients are newly sober, and many have come into a pattern of manipulating or even stealing to get what they want. You have to be really careful with your things.
Yesterday was a little crazy. I wasn't feeling very well and there was a lot going on. The doctor normally sees 6 to 7 patients in the morning but we had 9 on his list. I was trying to prepare for my group and get all of these patients into the clinic, all while the nurse wanted me to go to a party for a case manager who is leaving. I managed to get it all done. Just as I was leaving my office for my health education group with the male patients, the nurse's boss said she wanted to speak to me too. They had just been in her office for 45 minutes. I assumed it was bad news because, let's face it, that's the only reason management ever comes to the Island. I told her I was on my way to a group, and she said she just needed 5 or 6 minutes of my time. I told her that it was ok, and asked the operations staff to delay my group until 1:40, ten minutes later than the original start time.
She sat me down and walked me through recent Medicare cuts, how many patients the clinic sees at any given time and other justification for whatever it was she was about to tell me. Since I was in a hurry, I was almost tempted to say, "You don't have to justify your actions with me, just tell me what is going on." I think she wanted to talk to me as a way to clear her conscience, or maybe just to make sure she covered all of her bases, or to make sure someone hadn't told me before she did. When 1:40 came and went, I really wanted to run and start my group. Starting group late and being flustered is not the best way to approach 20 newly sober gentlemen who can be a handful anyway. She finally told me what was going on, but asked me to keep it "under my hat" until everyone knows the news. So I will. I'll let you know when everyone knows. I thanked her for telling me, and when I didn't have any questions or concerns she asked to use my phone. I told her to feel free, and that she could make herself comfortable. I ran to my group and made it just in time. The operations folks had started taking role for me, and were just going to do a check in until I showed up.
Group was actually surprisingly successful. We talked about stress and they were really open to talking about relaxation techniques, things they had tried and things that didn't work for them. When I got back to my office I was feeling a little better, but then I saw the door. It was wide open, and my bag was sitting on the desk where anyone could see it. The big boss had just left the door open, probably not realizing what we worry about with some of our patients. I went over to the desk where my things were sitting. As I dug through my bag, I found that everything was still there - my cash, credit cards, ID and phone were all right where I left them. The only thing missing was the candy from the bowl sitting next to my bag.
The fact that my patients cleared out the candy bowl but left all of my things made me really happy. They have enough respect not to mess with my things, even though they clearly had access to all of it. I won't let something like this happen again, but I still feel like I underestimated their integrity. Even though they did take the candy, it made me feel really good that they didn't take my stuff. It's just one more reason why I love these crazy characters.
Love to all,
Lynne
Yesterday was a little crazy. I wasn't feeling very well and there was a lot going on. The doctor normally sees 6 to 7 patients in the morning but we had 9 on his list. I was trying to prepare for my group and get all of these patients into the clinic, all while the nurse wanted me to go to a party for a case manager who is leaving. I managed to get it all done. Just as I was leaving my office for my health education group with the male patients, the nurse's boss said she wanted to speak to me too. They had just been in her office for 45 minutes. I assumed it was bad news because, let's face it, that's the only reason management ever comes to the Island. I told her I was on my way to a group, and she said she just needed 5 or 6 minutes of my time. I told her that it was ok, and asked the operations staff to delay my group until 1:40, ten minutes later than the original start time.
She sat me down and walked me through recent Medicare cuts, how many patients the clinic sees at any given time and other justification for whatever it was she was about to tell me. Since I was in a hurry, I was almost tempted to say, "You don't have to justify your actions with me, just tell me what is going on." I think she wanted to talk to me as a way to clear her conscience, or maybe just to make sure she covered all of her bases, or to make sure someone hadn't told me before she did. When 1:40 came and went, I really wanted to run and start my group. Starting group late and being flustered is not the best way to approach 20 newly sober gentlemen who can be a handful anyway. She finally told me what was going on, but asked me to keep it "under my hat" until everyone knows the news. So I will. I'll let you know when everyone knows. I thanked her for telling me, and when I didn't have any questions or concerns she asked to use my phone. I told her to feel free, and that she could make herself comfortable. I ran to my group and made it just in time. The operations folks had started taking role for me, and were just going to do a check in until I showed up.
Group was actually surprisingly successful. We talked about stress and they were really open to talking about relaxation techniques, things they had tried and things that didn't work for them. When I got back to my office I was feeling a little better, but then I saw the door. It was wide open, and my bag was sitting on the desk where anyone could see it. The big boss had just left the door open, probably not realizing what we worry about with some of our patients. I went over to the desk where my things were sitting. As I dug through my bag, I found that everything was still there - my cash, credit cards, ID and phone were all right where I left them. The only thing missing was the candy from the bowl sitting next to my bag.
The fact that my patients cleared out the candy bowl but left all of my things made me really happy. They have enough respect not to mess with my things, even though they clearly had access to all of it. I won't let something like this happen again, but I still feel like I underestimated their integrity. Even though they did take the candy, it made me feel really good that they didn't take my stuff. It's just one more reason why I love these crazy characters.
Love to all,
Lynne
Monday, March 26, 2012
Its been a really fun two weeks. I have been spending a lot of time with Talia and Sharon, friends I met through Christina. Two weekends ago I was invited to Talia's parents' St. Patrick's Day party. It was a lot of fun, and in the beautiful weather the next day we took a hike through the Ocean Spray cranberry bogs near their house. I was surprised to see things growing so soon, but it has been a really warm winter. Pictures are enclosed.
This weekend, I was able to go to another get together at a different set of friends' house in Bridgewater. The town is very New Englandy. I was able to take a long walk in the morning and it felt like I was in a small town somewhere, not 20 miles outside of Boston. We got to see the new Hunger Games movie yesterday too. I thought it was really good. Since I haven't read the books, I was able to get into the suspenseful moments more than people who knew what would happen. I enjoyed it.
Work has been good too. Things are actually slowing down, which I'm really surprised about. I feel like I've been running around like a crazy person all year and all of the sudden I have to search for things to do. I'm sure I'll come up with something.
I'm very excited about med school. I just finished an audiobook called, "How Doctors Think" by Jerome Groopman. It was awesome! I feel like I learned a lot, and loved hearing his stories about patients. Some of the book (especially the chapter about pharmaceutical companies and reimbursement) really fired me up, and has made me think about ways to improve the system. I am so excited to become a doctor, and I really hope I'm good at my job.
I think that's about all the news from here. Love to everyone!
Lynne
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Good News
This clip pretty much sums up my feelings on the day. Watch from 47 seconds on.
http://movieclips.com/UZbcs-little-miss-sunshine-movie-olive-wants-it/#.T07KZLAJOiA.email
I got into CU! Love everyone!
http://movieclips.com/UZbcs-little-miss-sunshine-movie-olive-wants-it/#.T07KZLAJOiA.email
I got into CU! Love everyone!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Skiing!!
I took down my last post because it was too long and not interesting, but this one is better. I went skiing yesterday! It was icy, really warm and not crowded at the area we went. It took me a little while to get my "snow legs" back, but I made it. The black slopes out here are between a green and a blue back home. However, the ice made it a little more challenging. We got "twilight" tickets, so they were good from 3 PM to 10 PM instead of 9 to 5. I got to see a snow machine in action for the first time, and there was a race going on one slope. I'm tired this morning and may end up a little sore. I've attached a picture of us before the day started.
Love to everyone!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
What an awesome day!
So much good stuff happened yesterday, I just had to share. When I walked into work, a young guy from the facility was finally graduating. It's a 28 day program, but because he has been waiting for a spot at his halfway house he has been there almost 4 months. He was starting to tire of the same groups, the same food, the same drama every day but he toughed it out and made it to the next step. He's young, so what little hope I have for people feels a little stronger. This could be the time for him! I really, really hope it is.
Several others who are leaving soon thanked me for my help with stuff. I don't know how much I did, but it felt good to hear that nonetheless.
I had a relatively successful tobacco cessation education group (they asked questions, we had a good discussion) and I think I finished everything I was supposed to. I got to go to yoga class after work, I got a box of chocolates and a card from my parents and I got to talk to my grandmother last night on the phone. It was the best day! I'm so grateful for the life I have and the people in it. I'm feeling a little more upbeat than I was in the past few weeks. Hopefully I'm out of the woods. Love to everyone!
Lynne
Several others who are leaving soon thanked me for my help with stuff. I don't know how much I did, but it felt good to hear that nonetheless.
I had a relatively successful tobacco cessation education group (they asked questions, we had a good discussion) and I think I finished everything I was supposed to. I got to go to yoga class after work, I got a box of chocolates and a card from my parents and I got to talk to my grandmother last night on the phone. It was the best day! I'm so grateful for the life I have and the people in it. I'm feeling a little more upbeat than I was in the past few weeks. Hopefully I'm out of the woods. Love to everyone!
Lynne
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Super Sunday and beyond
Hi everyone,
It's been a little while since I posted on here. Not too much to report. Super Bowl was fun, with lots of food and some friends up in Arlington. The Patriots lost, so everyone around here was a little sad yesterday. Work has been good - sometimes I get a little frustrated with the hoops I have to jump through, how manipulative our patients can be (or try to be, unsuccessfully), or how little effort some of the staff put into their work. There are others who make up for it though, and I am grateful.
I went out dancing with some friends over the weekend and that was really fun. It took me a while to find them, but in the meantime I got to poke around all over Boston. I was in the Back Bay and Copley, then Central Square, then Downtown and finally Somerville. Looking back at the city from Quincy the next day was kind of fun, since I knew I had been all over. No fun pictures this time. Maybe next week.
I've been going to a yoga class now that my Monday night clinic is cancelled and it's been awesome. My back was a little sore yesterday and by the time I was done with class it felt great. There have actually been research studies suggesting that yoga may be as beneficial for the back as physical therapy. Who knows - I just know it's working for me.
I'm getting off of Facebook on the 15th, so I've been collecting contact info from friends. I just realized this blog is run by Google though, so I'll have to pare down the information on me in here, too. They will be changing their privacy policy in March and I'll have to decide what to do about email, etc.
Love to all!
It's been a little while since I posted on here. Not too much to report. Super Bowl was fun, with lots of food and some friends up in Arlington. The Patriots lost, so everyone around here was a little sad yesterday. Work has been good - sometimes I get a little frustrated with the hoops I have to jump through, how manipulative our patients can be (or try to be, unsuccessfully), or how little effort some of the staff put into their work. There are others who make up for it though, and I am grateful.
I went out dancing with some friends over the weekend and that was really fun. It took me a while to find them, but in the meantime I got to poke around all over Boston. I was in the Back Bay and Copley, then Central Square, then Downtown and finally Somerville. Looking back at the city from Quincy the next day was kind of fun, since I knew I had been all over. No fun pictures this time. Maybe next week.
I've been going to a yoga class now that my Monday night clinic is cancelled and it's been awesome. My back was a little sore yesterday and by the time I was done with class it felt great. There have actually been research studies suggesting that yoga may be as beneficial for the back as physical therapy. Who knows - I just know it's working for me.
I'm getting off of Facebook on the 15th, so I've been collecting contact info from friends. I just realized this blog is run by Google though, so I'll have to pare down the information on me in here, too. They will be changing their privacy policy in March and I'll have to decide what to do about email, etc.
Love to all!
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