Continuity

So I haven't written about outpatient very much, for the simple fact that I wasn't doing much there. I saw three to four patients every tuesday afternoon last year, most of which I didn't feel comfortable "doctoring" on my own, so I would have my attending come in after I had seen them. Halfway through last year they "graduated" our class and gave us the option of seeing patients on our own if we felt comfortable with doing it. Since then my enjoyment of outpatient has grown in leaps and bounds. Since that time I've been slowly growing a base of "my" patients not just anybodies patients. Although I don't plan on staying here and growing a practice I am relieved to see that I am capable of sustaining myself and of holding my own against even friends of mine who I feel are superior doctors, it's a huge ego boost. Yesterday, I had a clinic schedule full of patients that were there to see me. I even had some walkin's (those that aren't scheduled) that were there to see me and when they were told that I was full and they couldn't see me, they re-scheduled! Two weeks ago I had a couple with a new baby request me after one visit, thought they have extensively delt with residents through two other children who had chronic conditions. I know this is in no way a comment on my medical skill, but non-the-less I take it as a huge compliment, that whether by my affect or by my treatments I am doing something right. It's at the same time scary that I have people expecting a certain standard from me and I honestly don't know what I'm doing different than anybody else. I guess as always I'll stumble and bumble and somewhere in there I will find my way.

Newbie-Doc