Through rain or snow or even more snow! (or...the Post Office has nothing on us!)

I have to say, when I woke up yesterday, the thought of a snow day took me back to those mornings when you can't wait to hear that you have the whole day to either look out the window at the snow or go out to play in it!


But...instead...I picked up Maja, Ashley, and Mallory (the M-3's rotating this month) and we set out for home visits in the snow.


Our first stop was to lend support to a woman with schizophrenia caring for her elderly mother who has lung cancer. She was outside shoveling when we pulled up and when we went in the house, her mother yelled at her because the path wasn't straight!!! That gave us a window into her stress level:) I think we managed to bring her stress level down a notch or two...she did have a good laugh seeing the 4 of us bail out of my vehicle clad in jeans, boots and winter gear instead of our traditional "white stuff."


Next, we checked on a gentleman who is trying to get his driver's license back after a bad head trauma several years ago (he was knocked off the back of a snow plow). He proudly took us into his basement to see the amazing model ships he has built over the years...one of which floated in a pond at the Mitchell park Domes for years! We did see how very frustrating it is for a previously capable man to be patient while regaining his skills to drive again (which may or may not happen...) I think he enjoyed having 4 pairs of listening ears!


Our last stop was a group home where we evaluated another patient who has had trouble settling into her new environment. We found her in good spirits and she had even gotten outside to make a snowball! (a big accomplishment if you know her...)


Overall, we were left feeling like we had accomplished quite a bit on our snowy day....never underestimate the power of a home visit to make someone feel worthwhile and cared about...

OB skills clinic a big hit!!!!

A few weeks ago, we held the second of our 4 planned skills clinics offered for MCW students featuring the fabulous teaching skills of our faculty and residents.

...I do have to mention that our dedication was most highlighted by the energy and muscle power needed to load the ultrasound machine in Dr. Izard's van while bystanders gawked and never offered a hand...needless to say, we never give up or back down from a challenge!!!!

The clinics have been well received and this one was focused on OB skills which included perineal laceration suturing, ultrasound, and measuring beautiful pregnant bellies and listening to heart tones. We have some wonderful patients that offered themselves to help the med students have this great and exciting experience (and our new professional friend Kathy, who lent her expertise teaching the ultrasounds).

The next topic in the New Year will be Domestic Violence and we have creative ideas to make this important topic another successful skills clinic.