Isolation

So I haven't written for quite some time, and I figured I should give an update. I suppose you're thinking from the title that this will be a depressing post. You would be wrong if you thought that. I've had a pretty excellent week, especially considering that one of my co-workers was "terminated," which, as Fancy Nancy says, is a fancy way of saying "fired." But it has surprisingly not really gotten me down. First of all, I should say she was fired for something she definitely did and it's not a situation where I'm worried about my own position because she was let go. And I've actually felt more connected to the rest of my co-workers this week, which may or may not be connected to that.

I made my first hospital visit this week. I went to St. Luke's, which I believe is known for being not such a great hospital, and it's strange, being in a hospital makes me want to go to medical school. Is that weird?? I kind of liked it. It seemed so interesting, like there were things happening there. Life & death things. Important things. Anyway, it probably helped that the patient I was visiting was doing pretty well, not in horrible shape. Or maybe I'm just becoming an optimist. Or in an optimistic mood. I have been taking Vitamin D. Evidently that could help. I'm also really feeling that kind of thankful you feel after you think you're going to have to go to the Apple store after your late day at work and pay $80 for a power chord for your computer that you actually would like to replace, but aren't quite financially able to, and wake up to discover that with a small fix, the problem can be solved temporarily immediately and permanently for $13 on the internetz.

But part of what I want to write about is actually something I was talking with my mother about this week. I've been feeling really isolated, not necessarily lonely, but sometimes that too. My job is...interesting. I get to meet so many people, and I get to talk to them, connect with them. Which is great. But they are my patients. and even my coworkers are from such different backgrounds. Most of them are from New York City and I am the only non-Hispanic, white person in my department. Which doesn't in and of itself actually mean anything. I think their being from New York City probably makes a bigger difference. But most of them have also not gone to college, or are in the process of it as older adults. Several of them are recovering from drug addiction problems. These people have faced very different challenges in their lives. I've really enjoyed getting to know them--as I do, it's taken some time for me to connect on the individual level with them, but it's happening and I definitely know they are committed to their patients, which is pretty awesome. It's just that they're amazed by some of the things I can do or that I know, and actually more than anything I sort of feel awkward about it, because I don't mean to at all be showing anyone up. I'm just being me. But at the same time, I feel in other ways that I have to prove myself a bit. And I think I'm starting to do that. I think people have started to recognize and appreciate some of my **awesome** abilities. Still, I can't deny that I'm different, both in where I've come from and probably where I'm going. I guess it's kind of cool though to get to know these people, to connect with people who seem to have nothing in common with me. There is something very human about it.

I'm also really excited (this is connected some to the above) about Electronic Medical Records, which we had a training in today and discovered that we will be "going live" on December 1st with the portion used to make appointments and January 20th (or around then) with all of it. I don't think I could possibly convey my excitement. I love technology. It is amazing. And one thing that bothers me so so so much is underuse of it. I know there are barriers. Cost. People who work in any job (see: my coworkers). I know not everyone catches on as quickly as I do, but it just is so useful! Anyway, there was much whispering amongst the EMR trainers when they saw how quickly I did the little task they assigned us and then also proceeded to explore the interface ("Have you used ECW before??" "nope. I just learn things quickly..."). They're going to have these Super-Users who get more training/know more in-depth how to use the software, but have "regular" jobs within the organization, and they want me to be one!! And since my supervisor was right there, they asked him and he said of course. Sooooo. I'm pretty psyched about it. Then all my coworkers were like, "uh, we're calling YOU when we don't know how to do things." Happy to help!

So that's fun fun stuff. I'm off to eat my carrots and apple and hummus and watch some Glee, which is (fantastically!) back.