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| Retraction & Suction all the way! |
I haven’t been in the mood of blogging for the past few
months. I have drafted some entries but I could not bring myself to complete
them. It’s been almost 3 months since I stepped into the private sector; now
working for a corporate practice. So far, it’s been a journey of
self-discovery. I have not been able to gather all my emotions and thoughts
about the things I’m experiencing daily, but as I mature, I would like to share
my honest opinion in an entry later on. So just bear with me. If you have any
questions regarding the process of resignation from the government sector or
any random doubts, you may leave them in the comment section below.
I think I still owe a blogpost of my experience in hospital
based dentistry. This also just to make up for my previous emotional post. I
didn’t know I would receive so much unnecessary attention for it; being labeled
as dramatic and sensitive. Gossips do spread like wildfire. Do not judge my
choices if you do not understand my reasons.
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| 1000 Origami Paper Cranes at the Emergency Department offering well wishes to the sick and injured |
Having worked both in the Gov Primer care and OMFS (Hospital
based Dentistry) department during my 1-year compulsory service in Sarikei,
what are the differences I noticed?
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| Ready to cut someone up! |
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| Just kidding! |
First of all, the KPP (Klinik Pakar Pergigian) Sarikei which
I was attached in, is the youngest OMFS department among the other 3 in
Sarawak. During my time there, referrals do not come by that often so I felt a
little restless during the first week. It was like a downgrade from the work
flow of the primer care. Together with another 6 FYDOs; we were attached to the
newly gazette Dr. Bernard Lau for 3.5 months. There was also a team comprising
of one permanent dental officer (Dr Chiew), 4 DSAs and a dental technician to
help run the department. Unlike FYDOs in other divisions who also got exposure
in OMOP and pedodontics department, we got to be posted in OMFS department
only. Till today, I’m not sure if that is a disadvantage. However, under the
new NDOP system, they have made it compulsory for junior drs to attach under
both pedodontics and OMFS.
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| Team KPP Sarikei (without Kak Raiza & Dr Bernard) |
Type of Patients Encountered
Pt who receive treatment here are usually referred from the
periphery primer dental clinics or from the hospital wards. Rarely do we accept
walk ins. Besides that, referral from private dental clinics would be charged
the first-class fees. To avoid pt draining their pockets, we usually instruct
them to get another referral letter from gov primer care before coming back to
us.
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| The new kids on the block having a tour of the OT |
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| Learning how to prep our hands germs free |
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| Yes~ get the brushes under those filthy fingernails! |
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| Hmm, half -past-six drapping |
Time for Treatment
As my hospital posting was not a hectic one, I get to spend
more time to attend to the cases. I think is universally agreed that more time
= less stress = quality work. This is only true for treatment that are carried
out in our dental treatment room. On the other hand, time is of the essence
when working in the OT. The longer we take, the higher the pt’s risk of
perioperative morbidity and mortality. Dr B did allowed us to handle
independently simple pedo dental clearance cases with a time limit of 1 hour. I
remembered the intense stress me and partner Dr Sharmeen had as we work our way
to ensure we kept that time limit.
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| May we invite tan sri Izham to officiate the straighten wire? |
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| Arch Bar training |
Nature of the Work
It is different from the community oriented OPD pts and
School Dental Projects in primer care.
Hospital based dentistry involve handling medically compromised pts,
life threatening space infections, road traffic accident victims, pathologic
head and neck lesions or deformities, uncooperative young children for dental
clearance and what we FYDOs like, surgical 3rd molar extraction
cases. For most of the time, we FYDOs take turn to assist Dr B while he performs the
procedures. Other than that, our job scope also consists of clerking a thorough
history, reviewing pts in the wards, arranging for other tests or investigation
and attending to on call cases. During our short stint there, we were in the
season of space infections. There were a few cases of facial bone fractures due
to road traffic accidents which I embarrassingly, almost black out while
assisting one of these cases in the OT. (Heavy breakfast is a must for OT day!)
It is definitely not routine work as every case is so unique. My most memorable
case was handling a pt with unknown cause of non-stop bleeding from gingival
pocket that blood transfusion was needed. I can still remember the pt’s name
till today.
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| The common Scenario in the OT (before our legs gets too tired) |
Of course, as compared to Fydos else where, probably we are the most under trained batch as cases are scanty. However, I did had a wonderful time working and learning with the staff of
KPP Sarikei. These wasn’t any bullying culture as often expected but instead a
pleasant experience working alongside with respectful and courteous colleagues.
I am ever grateful to trained under Dr B who has been supportive, approachable
and very patient with all of us.
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| Thank you KPP Hospital Sarikei |
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| The Last day! |
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| FYDOs Sarikei + KPP Staff |
Stay tune.
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| Jewel was there too! |
