Would you like some cheese with that WHINE?

So my last post was during a very frustrating game of phone ping-pong with the Oregon Medical Board and the United States Postal Service. End result was that my "missing" registration form that I mailed in was finally found...and thank goodness, because I was about to drive up to Portland and look for the damn piece of mail myself!

On a happier note, I really like my job so far. I finally saw some patients "on my own" today (rotation style: I went in first followed by the regular PA). She said she agreed with all my findings and diagnoses, and seemed impressed that I could actually see most TM's clearly despite squirmy kiddos with lots of ear wax. I didn't realize how much I missed seeing patients!! I had a blast talking to the parents and making funny faces at the kids. I still have a lot of medicine to learn, and some forgotten medicine to remember, but the love is still there, and that is the most important thing.

On a less happy note, I get heartburn now....way too often. Thinking of starting myself on a daily OTC H2 blocker or PPI. What a bother.

Random.

Jen

Licensing and Credentialing SUCK

Holy moly the Oregon Medical Board needs some serious re-vamping. A million days later, I should be getting my official license number today. Now, it isn't that the delay is completely the board's fault (my fantastic supervising MD failed his questionnaire the first time) but come on...I overnight mailed my registration paperwork and apparently the lady on the phone says it STILL takes two days AFTER they receive it to process it. TWO DAYS. It cannot possibly take two days to open an envelope, take my money and check me off a list. (edit: the lady at the board just called me back...they haven't even received my registration form yet...wtf?!?! Damn post office).
Anyway, licensing is such a big deal because my credentialing paperwork cannot be turned in until I officially have a license number. Apparently credentialing (getting my name in to the insurance companies so they will cover the services I provide) takes FOREVER, meaning that it will be FOREVER before I can see patients on my own (which we are still hoping will happen Oct 5th, but it is now looking doubtful).
For the last four days (and today) I've been shadowing with a bunch of different providers throughout the practice. Monday was all day with my supervising MD at the Redmond office, which is really nice, the Tuesday was at the West Bend clinic with one MD in the morning and another in the afternoon. Wednesday and yesterday was at the East Bend office with a similar schedule (two docs each day) and today I am finally with a PA for my whole shift (and it is an evening shift to boot!).
Mostly everything has been going very smoothly. The licensing crap is the most frustrating, followed by some IT issues (I have an email address...but can't get to it?). The medicine is good...I'm less afraid that I will kill a child at this point, but still very wary. The day tends to be split 50/50 with well child checks and sick visits. Yesterday I saw so many 6 month old well visits that I was able to memorize one of the doc's "spiels." I've also memorized the recommendations for seasonal and H1N1 influenza. Every single parents asks about the swine flu at every visit. Seriously. 100%.
Anyway, time to get in the shower and get to work....and track down my registration form.
Jen

Stuff

A lot has happened in the past two weeks, but I'll briefly recap the important stuff:

I took the boards (passed)
I got a job at a peds clinic in Bend
I moved to Bend

Funny how life always seems to work out...I was terrified of not getting a job, and now I've gotten one that I really think I'm going to LOVE! My first day will be Sept 21...I'll shadow MD's for a week, then mid-levels for a week, then the 3rd week I see patients on a 1/2 schedule (each appt twice as long) and then the 4th week, it's sink or swim! Learning all I need to know to be a good pediatric practitioner wont be easy, but I'm totally up for the challenge!

Living in Bend is awesome. We have a great house we are renting that is close enough to the Old Mill District and downtown that we can ride our bikes to almost anything! CJ and I have both been on vacation the whole last week so we spent it exploring and hiking and riding bikes, and it's been great! I do dread the thought of the freezing cold winters, but I'm sure I'll get used to it.

So, for now, I'm on vacation before starting work...spending some time in Seattle with family and friends, and remembering why I love this city so much. Back to Bend next week....

Jen