DR 6/5/15

Today was our last day of clinic. We ended where we started- at the Peralta clinic. We saw 104 patients today. I'm not sure how many patients I saw personally, but I think one of my most memorable patients was one of my last patients. She was an HIV+ patient who was coming in with upper respiratory and pneumonia symptoms. She was on HIV medications (she unfortunately couldn't remember their names) and was supposedly well controlled but did not remember the names of these medications and did not have her most recent labs.  Whether her viral load was 0 or not, she was of course still susceptible to infections.  I had been careful not using many antibiotics with patients this week unless absolutely necessary, but I didn't mess around with this patient.  With Dr. Rothschild I looked up the appropriate antibiotics for community acquired pneumonia.  We needed to give our patient the most broad coverage and we had to have these antibiotics in our small pharmacy.  We decided on doxycycline and augmentin.  I really enjoy studying infectious diseases and am interested in possible pursuing it as a fellowship in the future.  I was excited to see this patient, and I think this patient's story shows how this week has been all about collaboration.

It was bittersweet ending clinic today.  I was happy we saw so many patients today and happy that I had the opportunity to see so many patients this week.  However, at the same time these days have been exhausting.  I am happy though that we ended on a very positive note. The plan for tomorrow is to go back to the Peralta clinic and take inventory/ pack up.

Images of the Peralta clinic:

My office at the Peralta clinic and my view from the window: