Madison Alexander: Medicine, Week Five

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Madison Alexander W5

This week I have been working in the hospital with Dr. El-Bayoumi and the Green Team. The Green Team is comprised of two senior residents, two interns (first year residents), two A.I.s (or fourth year medical students) and two third year med students, who have just started their rotations. The Green Team is one of the many medicine teams at the George Washington hospital and takes care of a range of people. So, as to be expected, this week was very interesting.

On Monday Kunal was also at the hospital as was a recent graduate of GW’s undergrad program, John, who is interested in applying for med school and wanted to work with Dr. El-Bayoumi for a brief period before returning to Wisconsin. Monday was Dr. El-Bayoumi’s first day as the Green Team’s attending so we met everyone in a conference room and each person presented their patients.

Afterwards the medical students, John, Kunal and I  went to a medical student lecture about neutropenia and the various viruses and bacteria that can cause harm to a neutropenic patient. It was actually quite interesting, which I really discovered afterwards when I looked up all the terms that had been used in the lecture that were way over my head.

After the lecture we went back up to the hospital and I was able to follow with various members of the Green Team and round with them to see their patients. I will not disclose more information about the patients, as to be expected, but I was able to see some very interesting cases both in and out of the ICU. It was a great day of exposure and I learned a lot – not only about patient care, but about the inner workings of a hospital and, of course, more about common medical terms, and the illnesses that are seen often.

On Tuesday, it was back to the hospital. Around 10 am the team started rounding with Dr. El-Bayoumi. During rounds  the entire team plus me visits most of the patients and everyone, especially the students, is able to present the patients. This was really interesting because I was able to come to an understanding about the patients’ medical issues, the plans for their recovery, and then see the doctors and students interact with the patients.

Towards the end of rounding, the previous chief of surgery and one of the men that saved Ronald Reagan’s life, collapsed in the hospital. Since the Green Team was in proximity they responded and called the rapid response team. When that team didn’t come fast enough they called a Code Blue. It turned out he had only fainted and was fine and the Code Blue was canceled. But it was exciting and gave insight into the kind of things that can happen at any moment in the hospital.

Thus far, its been a great week and the count down to my departure is nearing unfortunately. I will be sad to leave, but then again I will carry the experience with me forever.

 

 

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