Life as a Medical Practitioner - Photos

These are some photos taken during the 3-days program:

Pharmacy:

Inside pharmacy the hospital, the "drugs" rack

Pathology lab:

Blood store in pathology lab

Delivery ward:

New born baby in delivery ward. Cute~

Radiology unit:

X ray machine

Mammogram

CT scan in radiology unit

Haemodialysis unit:

The haemodialysis machine

Forensic unit:

Outside the forensic unit office

The "saw" (found it?) and other apparatus
for post-mortem examination

In meeting hall:

Me & my new friends from the course

Life as a Medical Practitioner - Day 3

This is the third and the last day of the program. Today our only mission is to visit the Forensic Unit. Early in the morning, we gathered in a hall in the hospital. At 9 a.m., we get into our group and went to the unit according to schedule so that not too many people get into the post-mortem room together.

Our group arrived at the forensic unit when the previous group still inside the office. They haven't finish their session. At first we were worried that some of us will vomit while seeing the deceased as we just ate our breakfast that time. When the previous group came out from the unit office, they were brought into the post-mortem room. The forensic pathologist saw our group standing outside, so he asked us go inside with the previous group together.

A post-mortem room is a room where the post-mortem examination is carried out to find out the cause of death of the deceased. Inside the room, we have the chance to see the apparatus they use to examine the dead. He explain the function of each apparatus to us. In all of these apparatus, the most horrifying app they use is a "saw". The "saw" is to cut open the skull to examine the brain. Then, we were led to the freezers where dead bodies are kept.

Before this, we were being told that to become a doctor, one must have a "tough stomach"to see dead bodies, blood and all horrifying scenes. So, to let all of us experience this, so we would not regret afterwards, we had the chance to see 3 dead bodies in the freezer. They are a baby, the baby's mother and a male patient. They were kept in the freezer becuase their familys do not come to collect. They will be given to the police to be cremated after some time.

After that, we entered the office. The forensic pathologist explain the duty of the unit and all the procedures (such as, bod and doa). He also showed us a video of a post-mortem examination done by him. It was to examine the cause of death of a foreign worker (which already got permission from the embassy) that fallen from a building. This was to ensure that he was not murdered. We saw the "saw" being used (i'm sure you all would not want to know this...).

Our session ended with the video. We walked back to the hall and were offered free lunch from Kak Su who brought us in these 3 days. Luckily none of us vomit. We had our lunch and took photos together. We know each other very well in these three days. After this program, we will study in respective colleges offered by JPA and later, some will go to overseas universities.  

I think this program is beneficial and good for all of us (medical students) to know about our future career we had decided and gain knowledge from it. After this, some students change their course after realising that it is not suitable for them or not similar to what they think it would be. For me, when i wanted to choose a career for myself, i have already know it would not be easy, so ... no effect on me. I have learnt a lot from this and had a great time in the HOSPITAL. (haha)

Life as a Medical Practitioner - Day 2

We gathered at meeting room at 8 a.m.. After everyone had arrived, every group continue what they left out yesterday. Our group still haven't visited the wards yet. So early in the morning, we went to visit Ward 2 Medical, which is a male patient ward. Later on to Ward 3 Medical (female). These two wards are exactly the same, they have isolations room for infectious disease patients (except that i personally feels that female ward is better). Ward 4 is physiotherapy ward, for ortopedic patients.

Ward 5 and 6 are specially for pregnant womens who are waiting to deliver and also delivered mothers. The sister (head of nurse) of this ward welcomed us warmly. To really explain to us whats the difference between a life of other profession and a doctor's life is, so that we won't regret after choosing this profession, she told us the tough working conditions, hours of doctors. She even brought us to the Female Housemans' Oncall Room where the on-call housemans rest or take a quick nap inside. On-call working is very long hours, it is from 8 a.m. in the morning, until 5 p.m. in the next day, a no sleep day. For a houseman, there are at least 8 on-call days in a month. In the resting room, we met some resting on-call female houseman, and "interviewed" them. They told us exactly the same like what yesterday Dr. Rohaniah, and the head of nurses told us. Therefore, in conclusion: "Only become a doctor if you really interested, not because of your parents' choice. Once you enter this profession, your life is for the patients."

Our next visit is the Rehabilitation Centre. In the centre, we saw the apparatus for heat treatment, eg. short wave diathermy, Infra red ray and ultraviolet light. There is also a gymnasium in the centre, where the cervical traction and lumbar traction are placed. Usually, patients who experienced stroke will come here to exercise.

We have the opportunity to enter the Radiology Department led by the person in charge there. We saw a mammogram, a x-ray machine and a CT scan machine.

The Haemodialysis Unit is just beside RD. We went inside guided by a sister. She briefly explained the unit and how the haemodialysis machine works. I feel pity to the patients there who need to sit for 4 hours every week because of kidney malfunction.

The Psychiatry Unit is in the newest building of the hospital. We were being introduced what is the psychiatry unit do and who will receive treatment there by a pshychiatrist. After that we went to visit the psychiatry ward. At first, few of us were quite worry to enter because normally psychiatry patients give the public an impression of being aggresive and violent. Fortunately, there were no patient in the ward the time we enter. The sister there showed us the modern tie they use to restrain some uncontrolled patients. Later in day 3, we heard from the on-call group that went to psychiatry ward at night that a patient who attempted to self harm and commit suicide stayed in the ward.

We still haven't got chance to enter the forensic unit (bilik mayat), again, it is postponed to day 3. But after 5 p.m. we continue our "on-call" experience by paying visit to units and wards until 10p.m.. This is to observe how the on-call houseman carry out their duties and experience their tiredness ourselves.

In the wards at night, the condition is almost the same as in daytime. There were a few people being sent into the emergency department by ambulance at night. We were there to observe the doctors diagnose and treat the patients in the yellow zone. One of the patient had bone fracture in his left arm.Another had his leg wounded and the doctors guess he might have fracture in his toes too. An elderly had chest pain and the doctor we saw yesterday in cardio clinic came to diagnose using the echoscan.

It was a tiring day (my legs hurt) but I've learnt a lot.

Life as a Medical Practitioner - Day 1

For all of us who apply for medicine course under JPA and get offered, we are compulsory to attend Program Pendedahan Kerjaya Seorang Doktor in a hospital we chosen in the online application form. Well, i chose Hospital Kajang, which is located just behind my secondary school. It is a good opportunity for us to attend this program to know more about the real life of a doctor, which is not glamorous as most people would think it is. We also get the chance to walk around the various departments in hospital, where as a patient or a visitor does not have the chance to enter. Yup, i entered the RESTRICTED section. (haha)

We arrived there at 8 a.m. this morning and gathered in the meeting room in the hospital management office. There were only 8 of us. After an hour of waiting, we started the orientation by the head of emergency department, Dr. Rohaniah as the director of hospital was away to attend some medical course. She briefly introduced the hospital and mentioned a doctor's responsibilities. What gave us a surprise is the sudden arrive of a group of 40 JPA scholars which will be sent to study medicine course in Egypt soon. Hospital Kajang is very old, its 113 years old today. And still, it is the third busiest hospital in Selangor, behind Klang and Selayang. We also being informed that, to really expose the life of a doctor to us, we also get the chance to experience the "on-call" duty tomorrow!

After lunch and all had been settled, we were divided into groups of 6 people to visit the wards, labs and departments in the hospital. Our group first destination is to the paediatrics ward. The head of nurse in the ward act as our guide, she explained the routine of the doctors to us and led us around to see the place. There are isolation rooms which saperate the children with chickenpox, meascles and diarrhea. We then headed on to the specialist clinics of pediatrics, obstetrician & gynaecologist, cardiac and physiology. In the cardiology clinic, we saw the Echo scan machine and the image it produced when the doctor was examining the patients heart contractions. It is similar to ultrasound on pregnant women.

We were supposed to visit the forensic department and observe the post mortem examination today but it was postponed to tomorrow. It is closed today. So we continued our visit to the pathology lab. It is the most interesting visit today! Blood and urine specimens are sent here to be checked and it is also the blood bank of the hospital. There are many sub-departments in this lab. Microbiology lab where we can see agar plates (this is the first time i see it with my eyes! it jumps out from the text book!) Urine were examined in the urinalysis lab. There are also biochemistry lab and histopathology lab. We cannot enter the AFB lab as infectious disease, TB is diagnosed here.

Then, we visited the busiest pharmacy department where drugs are kept. The pharmacist pack the medicine and keep them systematically. They have their own little "factory" room that they produce the creams themselves.

Lastly, we entered A&E department with a nurse. It is divided into red, yellow and green zone. Red zone is for critical or severe injuries.

Thats all for today.

Handmade Cards Selling Event for Charity in TCSJ

This is the first event i organise in Taylor's College Subang Jaya and it is also the last one. I'll be leaving this college soon, so this event is memorable and valueble to me. I want to organise this event to raise fund for charity under Leo Club of TCSJ. The profit earned will all be given to drug rehabilitation centre and home for disabled. When i first heard of the teacher's suggestion of event involving selling cards, i was very interested with her idea, and voluntarily took this event because i enjoy making cards so much. So this is how it is started.



Handmade banner for handmade cards sales at booth



With the support of another Kelly ( which form a Kelly "square" team ourselves), Kelly Lee, we got this event and made ourselves the organizing chairpersons. Before selling the cards, we have to write a proposal regarding the event and sent to the Student Development Center to get approval first. In the proposal, we have to give an estimated profit for the event. And i said: "RM500". Some would think that its quite a large sum, and unreachable by only selling cards but because of this, Kellys' team swore to meet the target to show everyone that we can do it!



Birthday wishes/Thank you/ anything message you like! (made by myself)



Our teacher adviser, who also suggested this event, supplied over 100 handmade cards, made by her relative from Australia for the sales. It is sort of like a donation in the form of cards for the event as there are no expenses for it. She also provided her coloured papers for me to make cards for the sales. At first it was quite slow, i only managed to make about 2 or 3 cards in 5 hours. Later on, with lots of practice, 3 hours 10 cards.

Multipurpose mini cards (made by myself)

Kennel (made by myself)

Mothers' Day card (made by myself)

"Show Your Love" cards (made by myself)

We sold the cards personally to the students through distribution to Leo members throughout April and May. To speed up the sales, we booked a booth beside the front gate of TC. On 11th to 13th of May 2011, with all the posters, cards and preparations ready, we set up the booth and promoted the cards to the students who visit the booth. I was trilled by the good response. In such a short period, we managed to earn about RM300.

Cards, posters and preparations for the booth sales

Sonia promoting cards
( hi, do you want to buy some cards? one for RM3.50, three for RM10, these are RM5 each)



Our booth, cards supplied by teacher (left), cards made by me (right)



Day 1, everybody smile!
(From left: Wen Jie, Jih Dar, Sidhesh, "Kelly Lee, Kelly Wong", Sonia)



Me, busy making cards




Making Cards at booth (Limited stock!)



Our booth Day 3

The students choosing cards with Sidhesh and Sonia

In these one and a half months, we earned around RM 600 for charity (we reached our target! ). Although some may think it is a small amount but for all of us who put our effort in the event, we are proud of it. (p/s: I break my record, i've made 71 cards or More?)

Thanks to Kelly, Sidhesh, Sonia and other Leo members that helped. I will remember our great time promoting and selling cards together. ( hi, do you want to buy some cards? one for RM3.50, three for RM10, these are RM5 each)