I finally got my license and most everything is squared away; I am still waiting on my DEA license but that is not too big a deal. I am seeing 10 to 16 patients a day now. I do a lot of DOT physical - that is physicals for truck drivers. I am managing the care of several patients and seeing some for urgent care issues. I had a patient who whose job it is to pull the stomach and its contents from the cow who has some stomach "juice" splash in her eye. This, she was sure, had caused her to lose vision in one of her eyes. After getting her an opthamology referral and an MRI, I was the one to break the news to her that she most likely has multiple sclerosis. It was tough because I had to use an interpreter but I think I did OK. We have patients from Mexico and Central America, Somalia and Ethiopia, Iran, Sudan and Micronesia - at least those are the ones I can remember seeing.
The drive to work is long but easy - almost relaxing. Most days I am home by 6:30 and am surprisingly tired. My mind has to work more than it ever had to in any other job I've had, that's for sure. It's not really stressful, but I feel a great sense of responsibility and desire not to screw things up. There are a lot pieces to work comp that must be learned and mastered. I must communicate to employers regarding their worker's injuries, restriction and progress. I must convey the need for all the therapies and imaging in my notes, keep the patients, employers and insurance companies happy and do it all pretty quick. My clinic is still allowing my extra time for patients so I haven't felt too pressured for time though.
Most of all, I am happy to have a good job.
