1/31/07

Today I had a patient tell me that he needed to be out in 1 1/2 hrs. which is really fast compared to our usual 3 hour appointment. But, I am glad to report that I did it. I scaled everything in 25 minutes and had no areas to be fixed. I should have done him as an exam.
I also learned more about examining x-rays better. I think that I am getting the hang of it a little, but I am not for sure. I think that more practice will help me out.
My goal for next time is to check everything with the explorer and then scale only the things I need to scale. It will save a lot more time.

jan 24

today was kind-of slow. I learned that you really need to make sure that the x-rays are saved if you choose to do them digitally. I lost all of my pictures so I had to take them again and that sucked up all of my time. I am also picking up on little things to do that will make the amount of time the patient is in the chair shorter. Like really focusing on the anteriorsw really good the first time and doing an exploratory stroke instead of a working stroke on all of the teeth.
The nice thing iks that i finished my patient top to bottom todya. I also made a new friend. My patient was Megan Billings and she was really fun. I think that we and our husbands (to be) are going to get together and play games. It's always fun to have more friends.
I've decided that meeting new patients is like going on a first date. You want them to like you and you want to see them again. I was sort of nervous today when i went out to meet Megan. I'm just glad that my first experience was positive and not totally disheartening.
Joni was CA today, I missed her

TGIW

Thank Goodness It's Wednesday. today's clinic seemed so incredibly long. Joni and I both finished our patients early and passed off pe's, then we had to find something to do for the next hour. It's kind of hard to stay completely occupied for the whole time. It's totaly different with new patients because there's hours of paperwork, x-rays, OHI, OD and all of that stuff to do. When you have new patients, you're begging for more time.
I am still a little blurry about all the paper work and charting stuff. I always miss something in the chart or on the papers, plus the computer stuff is still a little beyond me too. I hope that I will be able to pick up on it more
Today, Daniel was my patient. He is so much fun. I stuck my instrument up his nose and he was left wtih a permanent ticklin sensation. It was pretty fantastic. But not as fantastic as he is.

Clinic Assistant

Today Valerie Warwood and I were clinic assistants. It was fun getting to check patients in, using the intercom system, restocking all the drawers, and all of the other responsibilities. It's nice to have a day off from seeing a patient. I like not having to chart.
Today, Joni's husband came in as her patient, but I pulled a prank on Joni by telling her that there was another patient here that said she was supposed to see them that day. She fell for, but as usual, was a really great sport when I told her that I was kidding. I like being in pods, I really learn alot from the other girls when i listen to what thye teach their patients and how they do it. I think that if I take a little from everyone in this program and add it into the way that I am as a clinician, that I might be half as good as they all are.
I am nervous about scheduloing my patients. I don't know what resources to draw, however, several have given me really good ideas. I just need to take some quality time making fliers and handing out my "business" card.

I'm Back!

Today was our first day back after the long break. It feels like we have been gone for just a little while and not for as long as we have been. It is kind-of nice to back in the routine of things. We are all a little concerned about finding patients to fill our schedules. It's difficult because the patient has to come several times for 2 hour appointments and usually people just don't have that type of time. But this system has been successful for other students, so I am hoping that it will be good for me too.
So guess what? I am engaged! I am getting married March 2nd. I am a little nervous to try to balance everything. But I am so excited to be married to Josh Jensen, I think that it will be wonderful, because he is wonderful.
Well, onward and upward toward the next semester. My goal is to be so on top of things this time around. I hope that the plan works.