I had a wonderful time sitting down with Mona, my first Supervising Physician when I graduated PA School, to talk about a variety of topics related to patient care and the medical experience. This was an unplanned interview so we went wherever the conversation took us and I couldn’t have been happier with the results. Our relaxed 2 hour conversation after dinner was edited down resulting in a wonderful 50 mins that I honestly feel anyone interested working in Medicine should listen to. Thank YOU for listening to it and continuing to make Maybe Medical (http://www.maybemed.com) a success!

Medical Doctor (Physician)*

Diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses. Examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive healthcare using evidence based medicine.

2018 Median Pay: Wage is equal to or greater than $208,000 per year (or $100.00 per hour).

Educational Degree: Doctoral Degree (8 years of College on Average)

Number of US Jobs in 2016: 713,800

Job Outlook 2016 - 2026: 13% (Faster than Average)

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Physicians and Surgeons (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm)

Incredible Video by Brene Brown on Empathy (https://youtu.be/1Evwgu369Jw)

Urgent Care - Walk-in clinics focused on the delivery of acute care in a dedicated medical facility outside of a traditional emergency room. Urgent care centers treat injuries and illnesses that are not serious enough to require an emergency department visit.

Medical Residency - Training after graduating from Medical School. Minimum of three years for primary care physicians and some other specialties, but up to five years or more for some surgical specialties.

Biochemistry - The study of the chemical processes within and relating to living organisms.

Internal Medicine - The medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases.

Primary Care (AKA PCP or GP [General Practice]) - Day to day healthcare given by a provider including health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, counseling, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses, and patient education.

Mammogram - The imaging process using low-energy X-rays to examine the breast for diagnosis and screening, commonly with the goal of early detection of breast cancer.

Anxiety - Intense persistent, or transient, excessive worrying and fear about factors not usually fear inducing.

Depression - Medical illness with a variety of symptoms with the main one being a depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, may cause significant impairment in daily life and may result in suicidal attempts if severe enough and untreated.

CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel) - Blood test that generally includes Albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), Calcium, Carbon dioxide (Bicarbonate), Chloride, Creatinine, Glucose, Potassium, Sodium, Total Bilirubin and Protein. Different from a Basic Metabolic Panel in that it usually includes Liver Enzymes of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT),

My dad George, experienced Firefighter and Paramedic, joins us once again to discuss the medical support that occurs during the wildfire seasons. I can’t thank him enough, and you, for helping us make Maybe Medical a success. Please continue to spread the word and visit Maybemed.com for a wonderful collection of Podcasts by an incredibly varied cast of guests who all help others by working in the Medical Field. Thanks!

 

EMT/Paramedic - Emergency medical technicians and Paramedics care for the sick or injured in emergency medical settings by responding to emergency calls, evaluating the medical need, performing appropriate medical services, and transporting patients to medical facilities as needed. There are various levels of EMTs (Basic, Intermediate, and Paramedic).

Structure Fire - Refers to a fire involving a structure such as a residential, commercial, or industrial building.

Chipper Crew - A crew using a wood chipper to break down scraps, tree limbs, etc. Very dangerous job as they can get caught in the branches and pulled in.

FEMA Firefighting Tactics

Poison Oak/Ivy

Kenalog Side Effects

Dexamethasone

Standing Orders - Preapproved Protocols and Guidelines directing EMS crews to perform specific advanced life support before contacting a Physician. Orders implemented in cases in which delay of treatment could harm the patient.

IM injections - Intramuscular Injections, bypassing the subcutaneous layer and going into the muscle, certain medications require specific locations of injection based on the uptake, duration, and desired effect of the medication.

List of Various Blister Bandages

Paratrooper - A soldier who is trained to enter combat zones via parachute from an aircraft.

Smoke Jumpers - A smokejumper is a wildland firefighter who parachutes into a remote area to combat wildfires.

Wilderness Medicine Training - WildMed.com (https://www.wildmed.com/) & Wildnerness-Medicine.com (https://wilderness-medicine.com/)

OTC Meds (Over the Counter) - Medications that you can purchase from a store or pharmacy without a written prescription and does not require a pharmacist to obtain.

National Wildfires Coordinating Group Online Course Materials

FEMA NIMS Training

Gator & Polaris

Brent K., CEO of Valley Immediate Care, joins us again on my recent trip to Southern Oregon.  We sat down initially to discuss the My Urgent Care 365 (http://www.myurgentcare365.com/) subscription model they have been using over the past few years, the goals, target audience, strengths, and hurdles.  Midway through the chat we went on a wide tangent where we covered various topics including Aesthetics Medicine, Tattoo Removal, and the fallout of those who suffer from Human Trafficking.  I can't thank him enough for sitting down once again and letting us have this moment.

Please leave comments on the site and please rate us on your podcast feed to get the word out!

Thanks Brent!

Terms Covered in Episode

Oceans of Opportunity, 2019 UCA Urgent Care Convention & Expo

My Urgent Care 365 (http://www.myurgentcare365.com/)

Urgent Care - Walk-in clinics focused on the delivery of acute care in a dedicated medical facility outside of a traditional emergency room. Urgent care centers treat injuries and illnesses that are not serious enough to require an emergency department visit.

U.S. Debt Ceiling, March 2019

Brent joined us to discuss Telemedicine and how he views the upcoming landscape, pitfalls, and strengths that we can offer patients as CEO of Valley Immediate Care, one of the leading Urgent Care Systems in Southern Oregon (and my first job as a PA-C!). I can't thank him enough for his time and sharing all the interesting information we covered. It definitely has me thinking differently about what it may mean for us as providers and patients in the future.

Please visit Maybemedical.com to leave comments and please rate us on your podcast feed to get the word out! Thanks Brent!

Terms Covered in Episode

LinkedIn

Instagram

Telemedicine - Utilizing information technology to assess health for disease prevention and treatment or may refer to providing clinical health care from a distance.

Urgent Care Association

Urgent Care - Walk-in clinics focused on the delivery of acute care in a dedicated medical facility outside of a traditional emergency room. Urgent care centers treat injuries and illnesses that are not serious enough to require an emergency department visit.

Oceans of Opportunity, 2019 UCA Urgent Care Convention & Expo

“Store and Forward” - Describes the process of collecting digital medical information (records, x-rays, etc.) then transmitting to another provider for information or evaluation.

Remote Monitoring - Ability to use technology to monitor data (blood sugar, heart rate, rhythm, etc.) from a patient(s) in another location.

 

TeleHealth Alliance of Oregon

Morbidity - State of disease or injury.

Diabetes - Refers to a group of diseases that result from an inability to utilize or produce insulin (naturally produced hormone) and thus unable to process glucose (sugar) appropriately.  This leads to a large variety of complications.

Assisted Living - A community living situation generally for senior citizens who need some assistance with daily activities, but do not require care in a nursing home.

 

Skilled Nursing Facility - A dedicated facility or part of a hospital that provides short and long-term medical care from a team of staff that consists of nursing staff, assistants, therapists, and many more.

 

Norovirus - A really nasty viral gastrointestinal infection that is easily spread in close communities (Nursing facilities for exp) and very difficult to eradicate.

 

Admission - To be brought in to the hospital for specific medical care.  Entails obtaining a medical history, making a medical diagnosis, writing orders for treatment and other diagnostic procedures, diet, activity, etc.

 

Mortality - Referring to death as a result, or the state of death.

 

Pilot Program - Generally a small-scale, short-term trial or experimentation and implementation of ideas that helps an organization learn how a large-scale project might work in practice.

 

MA (Medical Assistant) - A health professional that works along side a medical team in an inpatient or outpatient setting that is considered an entry level medical position, but is very active with patient care from start to finish and a great job for anyone who would like to help patients.

We talked about his background as a paramedic and currently working as a Trauma Surgery PA. We laid down so many points for anyone looking into getting into the medical field.

We covered so many topics during our chat he wondered if there was any value to it, but I know due to his background and personality we were covering really important information when we were chatting. This is the whole reason for Maybe Medical! Please visit Maybemedical.com to leave comments and please rate us on your podcast feed to get the word out! Thank you Tyson!

 

 

 

Physician Assistant Stats:*

Physician Assistants practice medicine on teams with physicians and other healthcare workers. They examine, diagnose, and treat patients autonomously and as part of a team in all various specialties of medicine.

 

2017 Median Pay: $104,860 per year ($50.41 per hour)

 

Educational Degree: Masters Degree

 

Number of US jobs in 2016:106,200

 

10 Year Job Outlook: 37% growth, much faster then avg.

 

 

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Physician Assistants (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm), (visited August 5, 2018).

 

 

Terms Covered in Episode

M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) - Requires completion of a (usually) four year graduate medical school training program to become a Physician.  They examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive healthcare.

 

Psychiatry - Medical specialty focusing on Mental and Behavioral Health.

 

Salary - Opposite of hourly pay.  Salary is paid no matter how little or excess work is performed.  Does not fluctuate based on productivity or hours worked unless previously agreed upon.

 

Production Bonus - Extra pay for seeing more then the require amount of patients, or some variation of productivity.

 

Attending Cosign - Legal signature and acknowledgement of a Physician Assistant's note.  Agreeing with their interpretation of diagnostics, medical diagnosis, and treatment plan.  Requirement of number of cosigned notes varies by state with many asking 10% of charts be reviewed by the Supervising Physician.

 

Reimbursement - Payment for services and medical supplies from insurance companies.

 

Third-Party Reimbursement (https://www.aapa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Third_party_payment_2017_FINAL.pdf)

 

RVU (Relative Value Units) - Measure of value used in the US to determine services provided by practitioners to gauge the value, and thus the reimbursement from insurance companies, for care given to patients.

Trauma Surgery - Surgical field dealing with acute traumatic injuries such as falls, motor vehicle crashes, gunshots,

Rounding out the trifecta of wonderful nurse guests this month on Maybe Medical is Flight Nurse Colleen R.! We covered how she feels you need to be able to fly by the seat of your pants to perform in her role, as well as have an emergency and critical care background. We talked about work and home partnerships and how to balance it all while supporting each other. She was extremely inspirational and I can not express my gratitude enough for her taking the time to sit down with us. Thank you Colleen!

 

Registered Nurses*

Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.

 

2017 Median Pay: $70,000 per year ($33/hour)

 

Educational Degree: Initially Associate's Degree or Bachelor's Degree

 

Number of US jobs in 2016: 2,955,200

 

10 Year Job Outlook: 15% growth, much faster then avg.

 

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm) (visited November 16, 2018).

 

 

 

Terms Covered in Episode

American Nurses Association (https://www.nursingworld.org/)

Trauma Surgery - Surgical field dealing with acute traumatic injuries such as falls, motor vehicle crashes, gunshots, blunt and penetrating injuries, etc.

Pulmonology - A medical specialty that deals with diseases involving the respiratory tract.

Consult - When asked to weigh in officially with your medical opinion from your specialty on a patient managed by another team.

Perforated Bowel - Opening in the intestines due to trauma (knife, bullet, etc) or disease (infection, cancer, etc).  Is a surgical emergency.  Yuck.

Sepsis - A potentially life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to an infection.

Rounding out the trifecta of wonderful nurse guests this month on Maybe Medical is Flight Nurse Colleen R.! We covered how she feels you need to be able to fly by the seat of your pants to perform in her role, as well as have an emergency and critical care background. We talked about work and home partnerships and how to balance it all while supporting each other. She was extremely inspirational and I can not express my gratitude enough for her taking the time to sit down with us. Thank you Colleen!

 

Registered Nurses*

Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.

 

2017 Median Pay: $70,000 per year ($33/hour)

 

Educational Degree: Initially Associate's Degree or Bachelor's Degree

 

Number of US jobs in 2016: 2,955,200

 

10 Year Job Outlook: 15% growth, much faster then avg.

 

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm) (visited November 16, 2018).

 

 

 

Terms Covered in Episode

American Nurses Association (https://www.nursingworld.org/)

Trauma Surgery - Surgical field dealing with acute traumatic injuries such as falls, motor vehicle crashes, gunshots, blunt and penetrating injuries, etc.

Pulmonology - A medical specialty that deals with diseases involving the respiratory tract.

Consult - When asked to weigh in officially with your medical opinion from your specialty on a patient managed by another team.

Perforated Bowel - Opening in the intestines due to trauma (knife, bullet, etc) or disease (infection, cancer, etc).  Is a surgical emergency.  Yuck.

Sepsis - A potentially life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to an infection.

When chatting with Sam it reminded me how much I missed the ER.  She gave us a wonderful perspective on how it is to work in the ER and what traits would make an ideal ER RN.  We discussed the various routes to become a nurse and she shared her personal pros and cons with us about nursing in the emergency setting.

 

Thank you Sam!

 

Registered Nurses*

Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.

 

2017 Median Pay: $70,000 per year ($33/hour)

 

Educational Degree: Initially Associate's Degree or Bachelor's Degree

 

Number of US jobs in 2016: 2,955,200

 

10 Year Job Outlook: 15% growth, much faster then avg.

 

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm) (visited November 16, 2018).

 

Terms Covered in Episode

American Nurses Association (https://www.nursingworld.org/)

UC College of Nursing (http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/nursing/Pages/default.aspx)

 

CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) - Takes care of patients under the supervision of Licensed Practicing Nurses and Registered Nurses in a facility.

Microbiology - The study of microorganisms, encompasses numerous sub-disciplines including virology, parasitology, mycology and bacteriology.

 

Satellite clinic - A facility owned by a hospital, but operated at a distant site.

 

Urgent care - Walk-in clinics focused on the delivery of acute care in a dedicated medical facility outside of a traditional emergency room. Urgent care centers treat injuries and illnesses that are not serious enough to require an emergency department visit.

 

Pediatrics Medicine - A branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents.

BSN - Bachelor of Science in Nursing, more schooling then Associate's. Usually four to five years.

When chatting with Sam it reminded me how much I missed the ER.  She gave us a wonderful perspective on how it is to work in the ER and what traits would make an ideal ER RN.  We discussed the various routes to become a nurse and she shared her personal pros and cons with us about nursing in the emergency setting.

 

Thank you Sam!

 

Registered Nurses*

Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.

 

2017 Median Pay: $70,000 per year ($33/hour)

 

Educational Degree: Initially Associate's Degree or Bachelor's Degree

 

Number of US jobs in 2016: 2,955,200

 

10 Year Job Outlook: 15% growth, much faster then avg.

 

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm) (visited November 16, 2018).

 

Terms Covered in Episode

American Nurses Association (https://www.nursingworld.org/)

UC College of Nursing (http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/nursing/Pages/default.aspx)

 

CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) - Takes care of patients under the supervision of Licensed Practicing Nurses and Registered Nurses in a facility.

Microbiology - The study of microorganisms, encompasses numerous sub-disciplines including virology, parasitology, mycology and bacteriology.

 

Satellite clinic - A facility owned by a hospital, but operated at a distant site.

 

Urgent care - Walk-in clinics focused on the delivery of acute care in a dedicated medical facility outside of a traditional emergency room. Urgent care centers treat injuries and illnesses that are not serious enough to require an emergency department visit.

 

Pediatrics Medicine - A branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents.

BSN - Bachelor of Science in Nursing, more schooling then Associate's. Usually four to five years.

I've known Tiffany for quite a long time now and she truly is like a sister to me.  I was so excited to have her on the show, but I've never once worked with her.  Despite this, she is such a wonderful person that if I ever was to be sick, injured, or my family needed care I would be so fortunate if she was the nurse.  She has been caring for people her entire life, even when not her responsibility.  I hope you feel as inspired as I am after listening to her.

 

As we discussed here is a wonderful Florence Nightingale quote:

 

The most important practical lesson that can be given to nurses is to teach them what to observe, how to observe, what symptoms indicate improvement, what the reverse, which are of importance, which are of none, which are the evidence of neglect, and of what kind of neglect.

 

Thank you Tiffany!

 

 

 

Registered Nurses*

Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.

 

2017 Median Pay: $70,000 per year ($33/hour)

 

Educational Degree: Initially Associate's Degree or Bachelor's Degree

 

Number of US jobs in 2016: 2,955,200

 

10 Year Job Outlook: 15% growth, much faster then avg.

 

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm) (visited November 16, 2018).

 

Terms Covered in Episode

American Nurses Association (https://www.nursingworld.org/)

 

Palliative Medicine - An interdisciplinary approach to specialized medical and nursing care for people with life-limiting illnesses. It focuses on providing relief from the symptoms, pain, physical stress, and mental stress at any stage of illness.

 

Geriatrics Medicine - A specialty that focuses on health care of elderly people. It aims to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older adults.

 

Pediatrics Medicine - A branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents.

 

NP (Nurse Practitioner) - A nurse practitioner is trained to assess patient needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose illness and disease, prescribe medication and formulate treatment plans. They may work in a solo practice independently or they may work within part of a hospital system.  They graduate from a Master's or Doctorate level medical program.

 

Travel RN - Nurse who travels for limited contracts working in all variety of places and roles.  On average 8 to 13 week contracts.

 

Autonomy - Being able to work independently.

 

CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) - Takes care of patients under the supervision of Licensed Practicing Nurses and Registered Nurses in a facility.