Update

I have been asked to update, but unfortunately there's not much to update about. I haven't heard anything else from school, and I don't think I will until the new year, when we get mailed our binders which introduce us to our life the next two years. I did have an apartment application approved but already there was drama/confusion with the landlord about the apartment we applied for, so I think we're back to square one.

My back WAS better until about three hours ago when I played basketball and tweaked it again...it's just so weak, it's annoying, and I have to get better about strengthening it.

I was in the ER yesterday, and as soon as I arrived the volunteer coordinator told me that we've had a lot of cases of H1N1 come in, and to be super careful, and if I felt uncomfortable and wanted to leave I definitely could. We actually didn't have any cases of H1N1 when I was there, but they do have two rooms set especially aside for people with flu like symptoms, that make it very clear to wear proper protection. I feel bad sometimes because I don't go into the rooms if there is someone in there, just because even though I know the chances of me getting sick are nil if I'm smart about it, I work about 30 hours a week with two 1 year olds and I'm sure their moms would be uneasy if they know I was spending time with flu patients. Not to mention the other four hours a week I spend with children.

Yesterday I was talking with one of the secretaries, and she discussing just how powerful the media is with this pandemic; when she was growing up if you got the flu you just stayed in bed and rode it out. Now everyone is so hypersensitive to the possibility that they could have it, people are coming in with the slightest cough, or with testing requests because "my husband's co-worker has it, and I want my not-sick (otherwise known as healthy) daughter to be tested even though they have no immediate contact." This isn't in anyway to undermine the seriousness of the pandemic, definitely get it checked out if you have a fever that lasts a couple of days or a young child that is sick, but everyone is definitely super sensitive about it. What is worse is that many doctors are sending their patients to the ED if there is any concern, yet some insurance won't accept a flu visit as a good enough reason to go to an emergency room. Our hospital doesn't even specifically test to see if you have H1N1 anyways, so the care you're getting at the super expensive ER isn't any different than what they could be getting at their PCP's office.

I could be wrong however, I'm not there enough to truly see the overall picture, but that was just the perspective of an employee who is there all the time.

Random: I just did a search of doctors in the hospital I work at, and the pediatrician in our ED went to the same school I am going to! I didn't know that. That makes two alumni from my school in our ED, I'll have to make a point to chat with them. I did have a short convo the other day with a doctor who went to a school in the same city and loved rotating through the city hospitals, so that is good.