Seriously, how do you guys go see the doc, optometrist, chairman, bank, etc? I have to be at clinics 8am-5pm every weekday. How do you guys do it?
How to make an appointment as a busy MS or resident?
- Thread starter cbc
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The new "post-call days" where you get to leave at noon. Of course, you still can only schedule less than a month in advance b/c you don't always know the call schedule any sooner than that.
Don't know how they did it before they let us leave early post-call.
There are some banks and doctors officies with Saturday hours that might help you too if you ever get Saturdays off.
Don't know how they did it before they let us leave early post-call.
There are some banks and doctors officies with Saturday hours that might help you too if you ever get Saturdays off.
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My dentist has office hours on weekends and evenings, so I can make appointments. (I think all the other residents go to the same dentist I go to, also.)
Lots of banks are open on Saturdays - just open an account with one of them.
Some doctors are willing to stay after business hours, or before clinic opens in the morning to see you for an appointment as a sort of "professional courtesy". Just email or call one that you're thinking of going to to see if they could help you out. Make sure to tell them you're a resident. Alternatively, ask your co-residents for names of doctors they go to who are willing to accommodate their schedule, and call up one of them.
Lots of banks are open on Saturdays - just open an account with one of them.
Some doctors are willing to stay after business hours, or before clinic opens in the morning to see you for an appointment as a sort of "professional courtesy". Just email or call one that you're thinking of going to to see if they could help you out. Make sure to tell them you're a resident. Alternatively, ask your co-residents for names of doctors they go to who are willing to accommodate their schedule, and call up one of them.
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cbc said:
I'm still a student. On elective rotations, my residents have been fine with me missing time to make various appointments as long as it isn't during rounds or teaching activities. I try to make appointments either first thing in the morning or as late as possible in the afternoon so I don't have to miss that much time. For required rotations, it's not as easy and you're more at the mercy of the call-schedule.
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AJM, your dentist is so smart! All the dentists where I live (at least the ones I could find) work 9am-4pm, Monday-Thursday. One of their secretaries says he does CME credits on Fridays...
I'm sure my teeth are falling into disrepair because of my inability to schedule an appointment.
Sigh.
-kem
I'm sure my teeth are falling into disrepair because of my inability to schedule an appointment.
Sigh.
-kem
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I have a condition for which I have to take daily medicine and have regular doctor's appointments. I try to schedule them as late in the afternoon as possible so that they likelihood that my work at the hospital will be done at that time will be greatest. I also try to let the person making the call schedule know about these appointments far in advance of each rotation as possible. I also at the beginning of each month see if I'm on call on a day where I had an appointment scheduled and make arrangements to either reschedule call or reschedule the appointment.
My view on the subject of physician appointments (and other health maintenance issues) for residents is that healthy residents are better equiped for taking care of their patients. Most attendings and other team members should be understanding of the need to be absent for these appointments.
As for other activities like banking and such, I find it is most helpful to make sure during a month that at least of the few days off are weekday ones. I love having weekend days off but there are some errands that just can't be completed then. I personally have not had much success with using the post-call afternoon for errands as I usually get no sleep on call and am tired than ever because I have to race to get out of the hospital by 1 p.m.
My view on the subject of physician appointments (and other health maintenance issues) for residents is that healthy residents are better equiped for taking care of their patients. Most attendings and other team members should be understanding of the need to be absent for these appointments.
As for other activities like banking and such, I find it is most helpful to make sure during a month that at least of the few days off are weekday ones. I love having weekend days off but there are some errands that just can't be completed then. I personally have not had much success with using the post-call afternoon for errands as I usually get no sleep on call and am tired than ever because I have to race to get out of the hospital by 1 p.m.
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Honestly... there were quite a few times where it was just impossible to do anything other than medicine. I saw one of my senior residents once and one of my attendings, with curbside consults, but that was the extent of the medical care I received for my entire intern year... It's much easier now, though, since as a path resident it is easier to disappear for an hour since your work is less "time oriented" -- i.e. no Codes to go to, and no patients watiing in the ER/Ward/ICU for you to see them...
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Very little got done by me when I was an intern (pre-80 hr days). I've set it up so all my banking is done on-line (except occasional checks from grandma that need to be deposited), bills paid on-line, and I arrange doctor/dentist appointments either post-call days (if I know the schedule in advance) or simply tell everyone on the service that I"ll be gone at such and such time for the appointment (a lot easier to do now as I'm more senior). I remember being shocked when as an intern my Chief announced he was leaving for awhile to get his hair cut. Can you do that, I thought? I now realize that yes, sometimes you can (although I wouldn't leave for a hair cut) and sometimes you have to.
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Exactly - just tell your team that you have a dentist appointment. Being in the same boat, I'm sure they can help you out for the two hours you may be gone. Better yet, if you are in a field like EM or Gas, schedule you appointment for the days you are not working 😉
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During my third year of med school, I scheduled stuff like physicals, dentist, and eye doctor appts (which usually require more advanced notice) on the day of my shelf exam. Yes, it sucked to have a shelf exam and dentist (or woman's health) appointment on the same day, but they were the only "free" hours I could count on far in advance. Anyway, it gives even more of a reason to get drunk that night.
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I do dentist's appts during Xmas vacation. I see my family's dentist, so I just call up 4-5 mo in advance when I know when I'll be home and schedule it for the first day I'll be there (so they aren't closed for the holidays yet). I do my annual physicals at student health. On years I've been in class or lab it's been easy enough to schedule time. On my one ward year thus far I think I scheduled it according to some break, like Thanksgiving or Xmas, like I stayed an extra day at school in order to go to my appt at student health, and the rotation was already over. Eye exams are also done at home, but generally if I'm at home for a week in summer getting an eye appt is not a big deal. I call them up when I get there and I've never had a prob getting an appt (I just go to an optometrist for updated prescriptions tho).
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Sohalia said:
What's Christmas vacation? Just kidding. I'm in EM, so I just go to appointments after I get off my night shifts or before my evening shifts. Most internal medicine teams can get you out for an hour or two so long as you can come back and finish your work afterwards. Just don't schedule the appointment during rounds or call.
As a medical student....how can you complain? Medical students are never THAT busy for THAT long. I mean, how many months of medicine and surgery do you do in a year anyway, 5-6? And that's for only one of four years! MS1s, MS2s, and MS4s can't possible have anything to bitch about. What's a year without getting your teeth cleaned anyway? Really. Get your birth control renewed when you take Step I and you're good til 4th year.
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Desperado said:
but I *like* having clean teeth! EDIT: uh oh, now somebody's probably going to tell me I don't have what it takes to be a doctor if I care so much about my personal health & hygiene, like in those MD vs. babies threads where all the guys are like "how dare you not eat, sleep & breathe medicine!"
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Unfortunately, I still haven't figured out how to do this, either.
It's annoying to use post-call time to take care of groceries, much less spending the whole afternoon in the doctor's waiting office.
I have resorted to once a year dentist instead of twice a year. Yet to make a doctor appt, although I really need one. And there are a bunch of other "errands" that I just can't fit in, unless I take even more time away from sleep. 🙁
It's annoying to use post-call time to take care of groceries, much less spending the whole afternoon in the doctor's waiting office.
I have resorted to once a year dentist instead of twice a year. Yet to make a doctor appt, although I really need one. And there are a bunch of other "errands" that I just can't fit in, unless I take even more time away from sleep. 🙁
B
Blade28
I definitely had problems with this during third-year.
Had a physical once on a Saturday between rotations.
Don't go to the bank, just use ATMs.
Haircuts on Sundays.
Shopping at Safeway, which is open 24 hours.
Had a physical once on a Saturday between rotations.
Don't go to the bank, just use ATMs.
Haircuts on Sundays.
Shopping at Safeway, which is open 24 hours.
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Blade28 said:
Even better - go to a Super Wal-Mart. You can buy groceries, clothes, CDs, have your hair cut, your eyes examined, your glasses made, do your banking, have your nails done, pick up some McDonalds and grab and issue of People magazine all in one stop! Throw in a dentist and Ob-Gyn and you're set!
B
Blade28
Kimberli Cox said:Even better - go to a Super Wal-Mart. You can buy groceries, clothes, CDs, have your hair cut, your eyes examined, your glasses made, do your banking, have your nails done, pick up some McDonalds and grab and issue of People magazine all in one stop! Throw in a dentist and Ob-Gyn and you're set!
Well, take out that bit about getting your nails done, and the OB/Gyn, and I'll agree with you.
😉
