Tag Archives: district hospital

Not just a Farewell Party

Posted in Everyday Life, Ponderings & Personal Development by

This year alone, 5 colleagues from my hospital decided to QUIT Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM). Few were seeking greener pastures, others had personal problems and one was totally geram at the higher administrations at Putrajaya for unjust judgements and treatment.

wpid-2012-03-22-12.27.17.jpg

While some people would respond by saying,

“banyak lagi doktor yang lain”

I myself think that these 5 people are a great loss to the patients of this hospital. These doctors not only have served both overseas and locally for a number of years, they are also those who cares deeply about their patients – only met with ungrateful remarks sometimes. Bayangkan.. nak ajar pesakit how to perform the solat as a sick person pun kena marah by their relatives. *facepalm*

Anyway, whatever reason they chose to leave – it is only natural for them or us to hold a farewell party. Recently however, the last one who left did not want a farewell party. While I understand his reason of not wanting to make a big fuss of him leaving, I felt that at least a simple farewell ceremony should be held. Wanna know why?

So people have a platform to meet and greet for the last time. So broken bridges could be mended. Forgiveness sought. Happy memories reminisced. Awful experiences shared and learnt. Words of wisdom passed on to others. Monetary favours or loans be returned appropriately.  So gratitude and thanks can be expressed to people who have made life easy and meaningful to oneself after so many years at one place.

All this so the person leaving could start the new chapter of their lives in a new, refreshed breath having made peace and amends to their past. Its not just a farewell party. Its a time to give yourself a wonderful finale for the current chapter of your life.

Of passing exams …

Posted in All in a days work, Everyday Life by

My colleague and I passed our skills exam recently. The questions were not leaked like the recent UPSR paper thus the success felt more sweet and deserving. We studied diligently for the theory and practical aspect of the exam – we pooled our resources and shared what we knew with each other. All this for an exam of a 1 day course. 1 day theory, next day exam. Ha ha. Even Mr Husband was impressed that I was reading something serious. LOL.

“Omg.. I can’t believe my wife is studying … you haven’t opened a proper book for two years!!”

Yes, his exact words in his sarcastic, sing-song tone. Ahem.. I have been opening my books in between traffic light stops okay..

terpaksa belajar takut fail then malu dgn haousemen

On my part I did not feel the need to hide any extra information – I never was the type who would do that anyway because I honestly think that there is nothing to lose by sharing the ‘extras’ that we have. In fact, the more we share.. the easier it is to achieve a certain goal  – in this case, saving a patient’s life – because we are all thinking along the same line of thought.

While some advocate for an exam-free environment, I for one is a strong supporter for the implementation of a formal exam to gauge one’s competence in skills and theory. An exam should not be the sole measure of one’s ability though, and should be supported by ongoing informal observation of one’s character and interaction with others in his/her daily duties. At least that is what Pan-Ro in Good Daughter, Hana (Korean drama) thinks. And I agree.

Nevertheless, the passing or scoring on an exam is not to give one a reason to gloat over the success. It should in fact serve as a reminder that many aspects come into play to get such good results – hard work, smart play and team effort. On top of reinforcing the knowledge that we thought we have and is doing it right and safe.

Now that I’ve passed – I feel more confident to guide my colleagues who didn’t have the chance to participate in the course. At least I can say without doubt,

” aku dah belajar canne nak buat from specialist – come I teach you and we learn the proper way ” 

 

Her name is Saraswathy

Posted in All in a days work by

“The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names”
Chinese Proverbs quotes

And by calling people as how they were baptised.

I make it a rule upon myself to learn the names of the staff  and my own colleagues I work with by heart. I feel it is very fundamental in creating a harmonious environment which in turn would stimulate motivation and enthusiasm in giving the best output ever. Furthermore, it is more polite to address one by name rather than just a ‘Kak’ or “Bang’ eventhough they’re just a staff nurse or a medical assistant.

Despite my best ruling, I tend to forget two groups of people in the unit. While they come from a private organization, I still see them day in, day out as we both perform our duties to the patients. That would be the Cleaners and The Security Guards. Our contacts would be a mere Hi or Selamat Pagi.Occasionally, they would shyly come up to me requesting a prescription for Paracetamol or cough syrups to which I would happily oblige.

One fine day, after a cup of coffee to start the day.. I was approached by a young female security guard.

“Tigers die and leave their skins; people die and leave their names”
Japanese Proverb quotes

I have had written a few prescriptions for her in the past for what I regard as trivial illnesses and had thought that she would want a repeat of that. Instead, it turned into a brief moment of awe.

[translated version]

She : Dr, I was meaning to ask you something about organ donation

ME : Yes, how can I help you

She : I registered myself as a donor a year back to give all my organs away. however, I had a change of heart recently.. and was wondering if instead giving away all of my organs.. can I choose which to give away?

As mentioned, I was struck with awe. Here, in front of me was a young female security guard from a not priviledged background who has a very big heart. Who had the conscience to donate something back to the living once shes dead. Nevermind the fear of the thought of giving away all of her organs, the act of signing up as a donor in the first place was something to be applauded on.

Thus, I was inspired.

And I learnt her name. Her name is Saraswathy.

This little fish tries to explain but in vain …

Posted in All in a days work by

“I consider conversations with people to be mind exercises, but I don’t want to pull a muscle, so I stretch a lot. That’s why I’m constantly either rolling my eyes or yawning.”

Jarod Kintz

 

Ahhh.. if only, oh if only I could do that to my patients relatives. Its so frustrating when you make an effort to explain progress and plans of treatment to the relatives or one relative, only to have another dozen behind that one person asking to re-explain the situation again.

And when I asked why the need for such exercise.. they’ll say, the earlier person did not understood in the first place.

In my opinion, the earlier person is just being lazy, or perhaps to be blunt.. an idiot and a coward rolled in one. Kindly take responsibility of the knowledge that have been bestowed onto you.

image

 

You’re not fit to be a specialist until you WOW me!

Posted in All in a days work by

An Emergency Department (ED) specialist came to our little district hospital for a visit today. I was WOWed. Im not often WOWed regardless if the person in question is a specialist with a sub. But today I was.

Just as much I was WOWed when I first met my HOD during my anaesthetic attachment as a houseman. These ladies deserve the grade theyre in. And they both have all my respect as I know it aint easy to get to where they are today.