Hospital Vs Primer ? An Ex-Sarikei FYDO Observation

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.

 

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?

 

Ready to cut someone up!

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.

 

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.

The new kids on the block having a tour of the OT

Learning how to prep our hands germs free 

Yes~ get the brushes under those filthy fingernails!

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.

May we invite tan sri Izham to officiate the straighten wire?

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 3^rd 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.

 

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.  

 

Thank you KPP Hospital Sarikei 

The Last day!

FYDOs Sarikei + KPP Staff 

Stay tune. 

Jewel was there too!