Family Medicine at Fort Bragg

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the background at the busy clinic you go to visit. Frustration abounds with long waiting times, and rushed care. Welcome to the world of the most under appreciated doctors on the planet, the Family Medicine doctor. They deal with the common cold, a hurt knee, and high blood pressure in a single hour. (Sometimes in one 20 minute appointment.)

The doc doesn't get a break. He or she sits in the office in front of the computer writing notes as fast as possible before the next patient walks through the door. They cringe at the patient with diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipedemia, avascular necrosis of the right hip, and peripheral neuropathy. The patient pulls out the bag with 15 medication in it saying I need them refilled. The 20 minute appointment passes and drags on as a history of chest pain and dyspnea is uncovered. Miraculously after 35 minutes the patient is out the door, meds refilled, and tests set up to save the poor soul from an early demise. Then another patient comes in frustrated at having to wait. No matter, drive on. The cracking whip is sounding behind them, as the double booked patients roll through the door.

I have heard specialists complain about the consults they receive from these overworked doctors. They complain that they can't take care of this problem as well as they can; however when all you see is BPH or breast lumps all day you do get pretty good at that. So it is. Be thankful for your family doc.

This is a smattering of pictures depicting two wonderful children on their respective birthdays. I hope you all enjoy these pictures of our wonderful 3 and 5 year old.

A change of Pace

Throughout life we go through changes that tax our senses and help to keep our eyes clear and our perspective fixed. The process of changing; however, is often difficult even if the change is for the better and in the long run is the proper choice.

This week I went from being a zombie of general surgery to a well rested student of family medicine. The change was somewhat painful. You see, this week was full of lectures and workshops designed to help us over the upcoming weeks. It also included lectures about the art and practice of a caring physician. This may sound stimulating but under most circumstances these lectures are a cure for insomnia. Even under the heavy influence of caffeine my eyes droop and my head bobs.

In changing circumstances the bad of one situation is replaced by good; unfortunately the reverse is equally true. As life changes and we ponder their meaning may we hope that good will eventually come of all of it.

By Samuel Grindstaff

Exhaustion

"Beep, beep, beep." It's 4:15 am and my alarm is arousing me for another day. I get up, showered and dressed. Then it is off to the National Naval Medical Center. I arrive around 5:00, change into scrubs and then it is time to work.

I start the day by looking up the vitals and labs of my patients, then I go and wake up my patients and see how their night is going. Then I write notes on my patients and prepare to round. By 7:00 rounding is done and it is time for morning report. Then it is off to the operating room or clinic to work until ~4:00pm. Then it is time to round on our patients again, and if we are lucky I get to leave the hospital at 5:00. I change, walk to the car, and drive home and arrive home at about 5:45.

Once I am home I spend time with Caleb and Charlotte, have dinner, put the kids to bed. I have a few moments to decompress and if I am lucky I am asleep by 10:30. I often fall asleep in front of the television.

I think I should be able to function on almost 6 hours of sleep per day, but unfortunately I find myself dragging earlier and earlier every day. On Sunday I slept in till 6:30 and just couldn't sleep anymore. I feel as if I work in a dream. So for the rest of you out there who are sleep deprived, here's to us and a good night sleep.

This is Caleb showing off his excellent balance on the beam.

We are the Partiots.

In the events that unfold in the world daily there is much of pain, suffering, tyranny and death. Much of war and too little of peace. Over the past few weeks I have worked on the trauma team at the National Naval Medical Center and participated in the care of the brave men and women who have been wounded in Iraq.

The scenes are disturbing, and worse then any movie gore that is used to portray what is the tragedy of war. These brave men and women suffer through months in the hospital, being left different then what they were before. The psychological damage, done, the physical recovery just beginning.

I enter the OR and see who will be our patient for today. After moving him to the operating table he is positioned and prepared to be irrigated and debreded. His wounds are washed out with a hand tool that shoots saline into the wound and sucks up the debris. After this is completed silver impregnated foam is cut to fit over the still open wounds, and are held in place with a wound vac. War is an ugly thing. I have seen the results first hand.

The blood of these brave men and women have washed the soils of Iraq and Afghanistan. In so doing they have helped liberate those who were under tyrannical reigns of Saddam Hussein and the Taliban. In so doing they have moved the fight against terrorism off our soil. They have given their all for our freedom. The failures and setbacks aside we should never forget those who have served us so bravely. Some have given their lives. Others will never live a day without the memory of their service written in the scars on their bodies.

Let us all be grateful. Whenever you hear someone complain about the way things are, or stand on the mall in Washington in defiance of the war, remember a soldier, sailor, and marine has given their all to let them do it. That is what makes America so great. Let it be that way always.

By Samuel Grindstaff

A Little Snow

A Little Snow and Cancelled Church

So it is in this world that some things are inevitable. For instance death and taxes. One more may be added to the list in our little community, and that is if there is snow then everything will get cancelled.

In the morning it was clear. A little sleet was starting to fall as we made our way to church. Then it turned to snow. Well that was it. After sacrament meeting we were sent home. This was much to the chagrin of Charlotte who was devastated by the lack of nursery (nursery for the uninitiated is the study of molded plastic artifacts, simple gospel principles, sociology of and psychology of toddlers, and of course the consumption of health food items all rolled into one.) In my increasing knowledge of the toddler mind I was able to observe and recognize the response of devastation and disappointment by her emotional reaction. Nursery is a well earned reward after an hour of reverence in sacrament meeting. After wrestling her into the van we meandered home.

By Samuel Grindstaff

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