Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Are you avoiding the hospitals because of new interns and residents?


July is when new interns and residents begin working in teaching hospitals. Fresh medical school graduates now get to wear long white coats (at least in most hospitals) and go around being called "doctor." No longer are they fourth year medical students. No longer do they have those short white coats. No longer do they need to find someone to sign a prescription. They have the power to write prescriptions (at least is most states) and they also have the power to control medical students (well, let's not get on this right now).

So, are you avoiding the hospital because these fresh interns are getting acclimated and oriented? How would you feel if your "doctor" has only been a doctor for a few days?

Well, I suppose if you're sick, you really don't have any choice. Perhaps you'll want to go to a private hospital and avoid teaching institutions. If you do that, how will these students and doctors-in-training learn anything?

Do you know how to differentiate an intern from a resident? Some hospitals use different white coats (or they place a "mark" on the intern coat). If you see a young-looking doctor wearing a brand long new white coat, you may wonder, "how new is that long white coat?"

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