Dangerous Rotation Sites

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septoplasty

septoplasty

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I was posted in a PCP office for FM and man is this place dangerous. (South side Chicago), so much so that I don't feel comfortable going to the clinic (even during day light hours). How should I approach this with my clinical director?

I dont want to sound like a wuss, but when you see people sawing off locks, shooting, selling crack beside the clinic in broad day light it shakes you a bit.
 
SUCK IT UP

lol I went to a med school in nyc-the area around one of the rotation hospitals even scared the cops. Alwaya travel to and from the site with other students and try to drive to the site by car.
 
Get out of your comfort zone. I used to work in the some of the worse parts of NYC it wasn't so bad. If you stop being such a pansy and open your eyes that the world isn't just the suburbs where everything nice and neat you may actually learn something about how the world works.
 
septoplasty said:
I was posted in a PCP office for FM and man is this place dangerous. (South side Chicago)
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I recently spent a month of clinic days taking a two buses to Englewood in my short white coat. I'm a somewhat imposing white man, but aside from the first few days of vaguely racist hypervigilance, I never felt particularly threatened waiting for the bus on 63rd St. That said, I still never carried more than $20 cash.
 
phenylacetone said:
I recently spent a month of clinic days taking a two buses to Englewood in my short white coat. I'm a somewhat imposing white man, but aside from the first few days of vaguely racist hypervigilance, I never felt particularly threatened waiting for the bus on 63rd St. That said, I still never carried more than $20 cash.
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Why'd you wear your white coat during the trip?
 
phenylacetone said:
I recently spent a month of clinic days taking a two buses to Englewood in my short white coat. I'm a somewhat imposing white man, but aside from the first few days of vaguely racist hypervigilance, I never felt particularly threatened waiting for the bus on 63rd St. That said, I still never carried more than $20 cash.
Click to expand...

I never knew that being imposing in a white coat repelled bullets...the more you know...🙂
 
If you're not comfortable you're not comfortable. That's not being a pansy nor is it stereotyping/discriminating against the population and patients. Bring it up to your clinical director and ask their advice (don't say straight off you want a switch). Odds are they are more than aware that this is out of your usual element, and will provide you with either reassurance or a change in location.

Regardless of what other people say, there IS such a thing as violent crime (and having your wallet jacked), it IS more concentrated in certain areas, and you ARE at increased risk simply by being in said areas. Innocent kids are killed all the time by gunfire in Chicago, and it ain't happening in Lincoln Park. However, make sure you're weighing the pros of your current site placement with the absolute risk, not just the relative risk, of being there. You might end up liking it.
 
septoplasty said:
I was posted in a PCP office for FM and man is this place dangerous. (South side Chicago), so much so that I don't feel comfortable going to the clinic (even during day light hours). How should I approach this with my clinical director?

I dont want to sound like a wuss, but when you see people sawing off locks, shooting, selling crack beside the clinic in broad day light it shakes you a bit.
Click to expand...

If you're around 69th Street, check out Uncle John's BBQ.

My M1 preceptorship was with a PCP on 71st Street, and I always felt better about taking my life into my own hands when I knew I could pick up some killer BBQ on the way home.

Seriously though, people aren't going to shoot you just because you're not from around there. Watch yourself, act smart, take steps to make sure you don't lose anything important if your car gets broken into.
 
Well the problem particularly lies with people just ''chillin'' outside the clinic aka selling crack / street areas, so anytime you do walk to your car (even if its parked 10 m away), you have the potential of confrontation with guy's who are 6', 180 lbs. (Not that I would have fought back regardless)

This is obviously worse when you are wearing proper clothes (dress shirts/pants), etc. because that singles you out and increases the potential of being mugged. As someone mentioned, I've taken measures (purchasing a steering lock, not carrying more then $30 on me, carrying only my drivers license etc), but even then it just doesnt feel enough. Seems like I'll need a Kevlar chest plate.

I've decided that ill stick through the first week and see how it is, one of the other students was telling me the clinic was shot up last week as everyone was leaving, narrowly missing one of the students.

Uncle John's BBQ... HELLL No lol

As POIU86 suggested, the pros of this place are pretty good, see a ton of patients on your own, and overall the rotation quality is great, just the 'outside' world isn't.
 
Slevin said:
Get out of your comfort zone. I used to work in the some of the worse parts of NYC it wasn't so bad. If you stop being such a pansy and open your eyes that the world isn't just the suburbs where everything nice and neat you may actually learn something about how the world works.
Click to expand...
This is true, until you get shot at / stabbed / assaulted / robbed.
 
septoplasty said:
I've decided that ill stick through the first week and see how it is, one of the other students was telling me the clinic was shot up last week as everyone was leaving, narrowly missing one of the students.
Click to expand...

That's gotta be one of the worst medical school rumors I've heard so far...

Think logically about some of these "well this student said..."...

If indeed this clinic was shot up, do you think the clinic would have stayed open? Don't you think the cops would be posted outside as a safety precaution? Don't you think the attending would have taken a vacation or not shown up for some time?

Or hell, don't you think your school would have canceled the site for you? Do you really think the school wants a negligence lawsuit on their hands if, God forbid, the clinic gets shot up again and you get hurt?

Anyway, like somebody said, don't worry. You aren't gonna get shot or robbed in broad daylight just because you are new to the area. Be smart like walk on main streets and don't wander off into an alley. And I bet you half of those people living in that neighborhood must have come into the clinic once in awhile. The docs must have helped them get better and believe it or not, most poor people living in these crime-ridden neighborhoods do care about the people who help them like doctors and medical students. These are the last group of people they are going to want to rob or stab or scare away.
 
officedepot said:
dude just tell them straight up what it's like. They should be able to find another place somewhere.

better to look like a wuss than be dead
Click to expand...

If you're not comfortable you're not comfortable. That's not being a pansy nor is it stereotyping/discriminating against the population and patients. Bring it up to your clinical director and ask their advice (don't say straight off you want a switch). Odds are they are more than aware that this is out of your usual element, and will provide you with either reassurance or a change in location.

Regardless of what other people say, there IS such a thing as violent crime (and having your wallet jacked), it IS more concentrated in certain areas, and you ARE at increased risk simply by being in said areas. Innocent kids are killed all the time by gunfire in Chicago, and it ain't happening in Lincoln Park. However, make sure you're weighing the pros of your current site placement with the absolute risk, not just the relative risk, of being there. You might end up liking it
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These are choice words.

Switch, because:

1. It's FM. You're not expected to impress anyone in FM, just to learn. Where you do FM is irrelevant, even if you plan on pursuing a career in FM. Switching to another site that's "not as good" won't hurt you.

2. Is it worth getting physically harmed over an FM rotation, or any rotation for that matter?(the plastics or derm gunner might disagree)
 
Rollo said:
Anyway, like somebody said, don't worry. You aren't gonna get shot or robbed in broad daylight just because you are new to the area.
Click to expand...

You do know that people get shot or robbed in broad daylight all the time, don't you?
 
ScubaStarved said:
Strong lack of knowledge of real life and south Chicago and Englewood.

I also appreciate the tremendous irony of posters from UWisc and Stony Brook telling OP to suck it up.
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This.

Last year at my med school, two students were robbed at gunpoint in broad daylight (7:30 a.m.) ON CAMPUS. This year, a student was physically assaulted right across the street from campus and again it was in broad daylight. Muggings happen anywhere and at any time and anyone who thinks they don't hasn't lived in these rough neighborhoods.

OP, I would talk to your clinical director. If you're not comfortable, they need to know. If you really think there's a risk, you shouldn't be expected to take that risk for a FM rotation.

I find your description of the amount of activity somewhat hard to believe
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I don't. That same activity was going on around my med school. Shootings, drug deals, prostitution. It wasn't all that uncommon to see police arresting prostitutes right across the street. We were on lock-down once last year because of a shooting not involving the school, but down the street. I'm on rotations now, but the students who are there this year were on lock-down a few months ago because of a bomb in the student parking lot. Students had to stay in the lecture hall or lab while the bomb squad was called. There are some places that just aren't safe and unless we're there, we can't tell the OP to just suck it up.
 
Omg where do I begin. Meow, now, & rollo wtf! You think because it hasn't happened it won't or can't!? You think because we have police or if their not present there isn't a problem!? You think because the clinic is still there operating in these conditions there isn't a problem or it can't occur!?

There was viable terrorist threats & it was common knowledge throughout intelligence community in the United States prior to 9/11 & yet planes crashed and buildings came down on 9/11! If this is extent of intellect throughout medical schools in United States then perhaps healthcare does need reform. Heck I would even begin at the universities & reform there!!

If your rotation is in a dangerous area then don't go or have someone drop you off. Just because the crime hasn't occurred doesn't mean it won't or can't. Crime doesn't have a zip code or a specific time of day it shows its ugly face whenever it wants.

My wife did a residency a UT Southwestern in Dallas & some of the places she worked were bad. I simply stopped what I was doing and devoted my time to this & took her. I'd rather bust my hump & be over paranoid then live with regret knowing I could have prevented something.

Many programs are making great money & won't spend a dime on security or relocation. Some of you need to ask yourselves if this profession is really worth it. Considering cost & cuts being made by congress I seriously doubt it. Its better to back out now with some debt then waste more of your life & do it later with much greater loss of time & money. I know my wife regrets every day of her life. She enjoys helping patients but clinics are constantly expecting her to cannibalize quality by jam packing her clinic. Then if that isn't enough to drive you off deep end its all the goofy requirements & cost of cme or foolish unnecessary departmental meetings.

I would personally like to kick in the nads people responsible for molding doctors & particularly my wife into a robot! I haven't had sex in years because this woman is so burnt out. Just because some of you might resemble a fossil doesn't mean we all need to lead that type of life style! FWS added my penis to the endangered species lists its been so long..

Incidentally medical schools need to start accepting female students with bigger cans. I'm sick of their being no female doctors in Midwest with nice headlights.

Oh one other pointer in case I get banned from this forum for telling truth.. Don't pick a specialty that requires call. Choose optometry & disregard all the stupid rumors. 99% of what we heard in medical school, residency & fellowship was bs. Most female doctors I've met hate call so think long & hard about it because some literally quit because of call. Universities don't EMPHASIZE this point enough (ty btw)!
 
phily said:
Omg where do I begin. Meow, now, & rollo wtf! You think because it hasn't happened it won't or can't!? You think because we have police or if their not present there isn't a problem!? You think because the clinic is still there operating in these conditions there isn't a problem or it can't occur!?

There was viable terrorist threats & it was common knowledge throughout intelligence community in the United States prior to 9/11 & yet planes crashed and buildings came down on 9/11! If this is extent of intellect throughout medical schools in United States then perhaps healthcare does need reform. Heck I would even begin at the universities & reform there!!

If your rotation is in a dangerous area then don't go or have someone drop you off. Just because the crime hasn't occurred doesn't mean it won't or can't. Crime doesn't have a zip code or a specific time of day it shows its ugly face whenever it wants.

My wife did a residency a UT Southwestern in Dallas & some of the places she worked were bad. I simply stopped what I was doing and devoted my time to this & took her. I'd rather bust my hump & be over paranoid then live with regret knowing I could have prevented something.

Many programs are making great money & won't spend a dime on security or relocation. Some of you need to ask yourselves if this profession is really worth it. Considering cost & cuts being made by congress I seriously doubt it. Its better to back out now with some debt then waste more of your life & do it later with much greater loss of time & money. I know my wife regrets every day of her life. She enjoys helping patients but clinics are constantly expecting her to cannibalize quality by jam packing her clinic. Then if that isn't enough to drive you off deep end its all the goofy requirements & cost of cme or foolish unnecessary departmental meetings.

I would personally like to kick in the nads people responsible for molding doctors & particularly my wife into a robot! I haven't had sex in years because this woman is so burnt out. Just because some of you might resemble a fossil doesn't mean we all need to lead that type of life style! FWS added my penis to the endangered species lists its been so long..

Incidentally medical schools need to start accepting female students with bigger cans. I'm sick of their being no female doctors in Midwest with nice headlights.

Oh one other pointer in case I get banned from this forum for telling truth.. Don't pick a specialty that requires call. Choose optometry & disregard all the stupid rumors. 99% of what we heard in medical school, residency & fellowship was bs. Most female doctors I've met hate call so think long & hard about it because some literally quit because of call. Universities don't EMPHASIZE this point enough (ty btw)!
Click to expand...

There's an awful lot to like about this post. From terrorism to the congressional budget to sexual problems to advice on applying to optometry, this post has got it all.
 
Don't piss people off, wear anything flashly, or show off your new iphone, and you'll be fine. Suck it up.

Most people are killed by someone they know.

We had a full lock down code black(bomb threat) at my hospital, which is not in a bad area. Someone was pissed they didn't get their pain pills.
 
EmersonAnne said:
This.

Last year at my med school, two students were robbed at gunpoint in broad daylight (7:30 a.m.) ON CAMPUS. This year, a student was physically assaulted right across the street from campus and again it was in broad daylight. Muggings happen anywhere and at any time and anyone who thinks they don't hasn't lived in these rough neighborhoods.

OP, I would talk to your clinical director. If you're not comfortable, they need to know. If you really think there's a risk, you shouldn't be expected to take that risk for a FM rotation.



I don't. That same activity was going on around my med school. Shootings, drug deals, prostitution. It wasn't all that uncommon to see police arresting prostitutes right across the street. We were on lock-down once last year because of a shooting not involving the school, but down the street. I'm on rotations now, but the students who are there this year were on lock-down a few months ago because of a bomb in the student parking lot. Students had to stay in the lecture hall or lab while the bomb squad was called. There are some places that just aren't safe and unless we're there, we can't tell the OP to just suck it up.
Click to expand...

kcumb? the bomb wasnt in the parking lot, it was at the cell tower
 
You would be surprised at the number of things that go unreported by students to the clinical education department because they are afraid of being labeled "that student." Issues of safety should always be brought to the attention of school administration. If you don't say anything, they may never know.
 
Rollo said:
That's gotta be one of the worst medical school rumors I've heard so far...

Think logically about some of these "well this student said..."...

If indeed this clinic was shot up, do you think the clinic would have stayed open? Don't you think the cops would be posted outside as a safety precaution? Don't you think the attending would have taken a vacation or not shown up for some time?

Or hell, don't you think your school would have canceled the site for you? Do you really think the school wants a negligence lawsuit on their hands if, God forbid, the clinic gets shot up again and you get hurt?

Anyway, like somebody said, don't worry. You aren't gonna get shot or robbed in broad daylight just because you are new to the area. Be smart like walk on main streets and don't wander off into an alley. And I bet you half of those people living in that neighborhood must have come into the clinic once in awhile. The docs must have helped them get better and believe it or not, most poor people living in these crime-ridden neighborhoods do care about the people who help them like doctors and medical students. These are the last group of people they are going to want to rob or stab or scare away.
Click to expand...
Well, I don't want to mention specifics, but its in Englewood (southside chicago, IL) if you google any of the following words ''gun violence, shooting, armed robbery, stabbing, theft", you'll find TONS of new report incidents, even occurring during broad day light. One of the staff actually showed me a pictures of bullet holes in the walls (I didn't notice on the outside of the building at first), so I would say it wasn't completely false.

Regardless, I get what you are saying, but I guess no one before me has ''complained'' about the particular safety hazards, so the school might not have felt compelled to cancel that particular rotation site. But so far, I've learned that besides the relative personal safety risk, the learning experience is great, and thus I'll be continuing with this present place. Ill just keep my Kevlar on for 4 more weeks ha ha.
 
ScubaStarved said:
Strong lack of knowledge of real life and south Chicago and Englewood.

I also appreciate the tremendous irony of posters from UWisc and Stony Brook telling OP to suck it up.

OP, you sound like you're doing all the right things. This is not a rotation on which to carry your iPhone or an expensive watch. Make sure nothing AT ALL is visible in your car: your window could get smashed for a single CD, a case of water bottles, or for visible suction cup markings from a GPS (PD daily reports make an entertaining read for this reason). Otherwise, you're unlikely to be accosted by people slinging outside the clinic. I find your description of the amount of activity somewhat hard to believe, but regardless, those with active business prospects are not going to mess with you for a smartphone.

Otherwise, enjoy your time at Chicago's FHQC. You're lucky you're not there in the summer, when >half the visits are for school physicals and Depo.
Click to expand...
+10

Exactly as how you described, I've taken those measures as well.
 
PCOMSurgery said:
You would be surprised at the number of things that go unreported by students to the clinical education department because they are afraid of being labeled "that student." Issues of safety should always be brought to the attention of school administration. If you don't say anything, they may never know.
Click to expand...
This.

Plus the fact that, sometimes delaying even a week or two affects students progress through the rotation schedule, and therefore graduation, and so affecting a whole bunch of things in the end, overall bad business for the school.
 
officedepot said:
better to look like a wuss than be dead
Click to expand...

This.

Slevin said:
Get out of your comfort zone. I used to work in the some of the worse parts of NYC it wasn't so bad. If you stop being such a pansy and open your eyes that the world isn't just the suburbs where everything nice and neat you may actually learn something about how the world works.
Click to expand...

Really? There's drugs and violence happening on his front doorstep, and you're going to call him names?

VisionaryTics said:
people aren't going to shoot you just because you're not from around there.
Click to expand...

Because drug addicts are always rational, right?

I work in a rough city. Your comment is absolutely untrue.

Rollo said:
If indeed this clinic was shot up, do you think the clinic would have stayed open?
Click to expand...

Yes.

Don't you think the cops would be posted outside as a safety precaution?
Click to expand...

No.


Or hell, don't you think your school would have canceled the site for you?
Click to expand...

Who says the school even knows how bad it is?

Anyway, like somebody said, don't worry. You aren't gonna get shot or robbed in broad daylight just because you are new to the area. Be smart like walk on main streets and don't wander off into an alley. And I bet you half of those people living in that neighborhood must have come into the clinic once in awhile. The docs must have helped them get better and believe it or not, most poor people living in these crime-ridden neighborhoods do care about the people who help them like doctors and medical students. These are the last group of people they are going to want to rob or stab or scare away.
Click to expand...

Again, people high on drugs or jonesing for their next high, or hell, people who just don't give a damn, don't usually follow the same rational thought processes.

Nothing is worth your life and/or health. Nothing.
 
meowdoc said:
Stop being such a wuss-puss and go care for these people.
Click to expand...

Slevin said:
Get out of your comfort zone. I used to work in the some of the worse parts of NYC it wasn't so bad. If you stop being such a pansy and open your eyes that the world isn't just the suburbs where everything nice and neat you may actually learn something about how the world works.
Click to expand...

phily said:
Omg where do I begin. Meow, now, & rollo wtf! You think because it hasn't happened it won't or can't!? You think because we have police or if their not present there isn't a problem!? You think because the clinic is still there operating in these conditions there isn't a problem or it can't occur!?

There was viable terrorist threats & it was common knowledge throughout intelligence community in the United States prior to 9/11 & yet planes crashed and buildings came down on 9/11! If this is extent of intellect throughout medical schools in United States then perhaps healthcare does need reform. Heck I would even begin at the universities & reform there!!

If your rotation is in a dangerous area then don't go or have someone drop you off. Just because the crime hasn't occurred doesn't mean it won't or can't. Crime doesn't have a zip code or a specific time of day it shows its ugly face whenever it wants.

My wife did a residency a UT Southwestern in Dallas & some of the places she worked were bad. I simply stopped what I was doing and devoted my time to this & took her. I'd rather bust my hump & be over paranoid then live with regret knowing I could have prevented something.

Many programs are making great money & won't spend a dime on security or relocation. Some of you need to ask yourselves if this profession is really worth it. Considering cost & cuts being made by congress I seriously doubt it. Its better to back out now with some debt then waste more of your life & do it later with much greater loss of time & money. I know my wife regrets every day of her life. She enjoys helping patients but clinics are constantly expecting her to cannibalize quality by jam packing her clinic. Then if that isn't enough to drive you off deep end its all the goofy requirements & cost of cme or foolish unnecessary departmental meetings.

I would personally like to kick in the nads people responsible for molding doctors & particularly my wife into a robot! I haven't had sex in years because this woman is so burnt out. Just because some of you might resemble a fossil doesn't mean we all need to lead that type of life style! FWS added my penis to the endangered species lists its been so long..

Incidentally medical schools need to start accepting female students with bigger cans. I'm sick of their being no female doctors in Midwest with nice headlights.

Oh one other pointer in case I get banned from this forum for telling truth.. Don't pick a specialty that requires call. Choose optometry & disregard all the stupid rumors. 99% of what we heard in medical school, residency & fellowship was bs. Most female doctors I've met hate call so think long & hard about it because some literally quit because of call. Universities don't EMPHASIZE this point enough (ty btw)!
Click to expand...

To the moderators: the only thing I found in the last post even mildly offensive was the comment on headlights. So, he gets banned, but yet the 2 people that call him names because he has a legit concern about being murdered are still here?

You guys really need to straighten out your priorities. I was far more offended by the name calling, demeaning posts of the first 2 than the guy who made many reasonable observations.
 
Trolking said:
kcumb? the bomb wasnt in the parking lot, it was at the cell tower
Click to expand...

I'm on rotations somewhere else so I wouldn't know. But the email we got said the student parking lot. Even if it was the cell tower, isn't it right next to the parking lot? What's the diff?
 
EmersonAnne said:
I'm on rotations somewhere else so I wouldn't know. But the email we got said the student parking lot. Even if it was the cell tower, isn't it right next to the parking lot? What's the diff?
Click to expand...

the difference is the intended target. anyway the bomb was damn near indestructable, it took 3 or 4 tries to destroy it with explosives. they said it was a pipe bomb, but i'm betting it was just pipe. a real sturdy steel pipe.
 
To roughly quote my favorite comedian, "What do you think happens? You get off the subway in Detroit and they say, 'Hi, welcome to Detroit. [Stab you in the face repeatedly]'".
 
partydoc said:
false. we dont have a subway
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False. There are many Subways in Detroit.

subway_van_jalopnik-topshot.jpg


In fact some are drive-through...

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMbWXzr6lDE&feature=player_embedded[/YOUTUBE]
 
McGillGrad said:
False. There are many Subways in Detroit.

subway_van_jalopnik-topshot.jpg


In fact some are drive-through...

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMbWXzr6lDE&feature=player_embedded[/YOUTUBE]
Click to expand...

haha my bad, i assumed public transportation.

thats definitely one thing we dont have
 
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