On my last day in TCSJ

Today is my last day in TCSJ. I finished my Sem 1 exam with Biology. Quite ok, a fairly good ending for the exam, at least i wont feel too bad a whole day.

After the exam, me and my classmates have lunch together. Too bad they ask ME to choose a place, i was undecided to choose which restaurant to go everyday, still they ask me to choose a place? yup, at last, we agreed to the only suggestion-- the chicken rice shop. Halfway eating, suddenly, the Bear came out, which she thought it would be a surprise (but actually a shock) to us. Its nice to see her there, i'm so touched (but i wont cry in front of people! too bad you can't see me cry! haha) ! We took pictures together, keep smiling till my face almost paralyze.

And then, wow! Brandon made a choc cake, which taste very very nice, looks good too! Guess he might become a chef or develop a brand someday ( "Brand - on" confectionery?) Dear Michelle also bought a slice of cake for me, its green tea! I haven't try yet but sure will be nice too! And your colourful little notes, i'll keep it! I wonder why you guys gave me cakes? Because i look like i like cakes a lot? But yup, haha, i really like cakes, thanks to both of you! Piglet Kelly and Xinying, thanks for your goodbye note! Its memorable and i'll keep it safe and sound. Thanks to my dear housemates, Jiapeng and Yingying who gave me a keychain and chocolate. (Do i really look like i like sweet things? *laughing*)

Next, thanks to Sonia, Sidhesh, Kelly Lee, Hui Yi, Patrick, Daniel, Eu Jian and Choong Heng, for spending time to accompany me even though you all can go home or shopping or whatever places to have a nap or relax! Thanks to all my classmates for your wishes and i hope you all will do well in your studies later!

I will be back to visit you all if i have free time. Well, i'm not dying, just that i won't be hanging around in the class everyday. Do keep in touch on FB!

Love, 

Kelly.

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.