The Medical Thread - Page 14

AKA_Monet · #**196** 02-09-2009, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zephyrus

Is this true? I haven't read it anywhere, but I heard that in Russia, their medical doctors use the same needles over and over again. They just sterilize them. Is that true? And how do other countries medical standards compared to ours?

To add to the nice explanation Dr. BigRedBeta said:

A VERY LONG TIME AGO they did have large gauged, autoclavable needles wrapped in glass. I have seen them and have used them for research scientific purposes. As for human use, the time I saw them was in the mid-70's to early 80's. "Hamilton Syringes" was the company that made them until sterile plastics were developed... You also did not have small bore gauged needles--like the insulin 30-36 gauge needle syringes like it is now.

Some countries have not had medical equipment upgrades for many years... Some countries have ZERO medical equipment, and clinical labs--like a basic clinical centrifuge is missing... The agency "PATH" is into developing these "user friendly" technologies to "Global Health concerns"...

Autoclavable materials can kill most pathogens, but not ALL pathogens, and definitely not prions or new infective agents. It is thought that aberrant microRNAs can be highly contagious because of its possible ribozyme or structural malformations--this is very cutting edge and speculation at this time. And microRNAs can be at least a 10-20mer sized... That's a primer!!!

And to Dr. BigRedBeta,

That is what frustrates me about some foreign medical education systems... Oh well... I have heard that if the USMLE was taken by some folks, they are unable to pass it... So in some ways, MD is different levels of education from one country to the next. Which makes the US system pretty good compared to other excellent countries, like Germany, Sweden, France, England and Australia.

And yeah, US public health is in shambles... Unfortunately, someone can have the Nobel Prize in Medicine, cure cancer, be a fantastic surgeon, but it is our "system" of health care at this time that gives us our ridiculously poor treatment outcomes. I hope this changes, I have researched and worked in this area too long and I am so dismayed--there is no reason for what we are seeing!!! And I have heard the same sighs from physicians regarding this lunacy...

Tyrese · #**197** 02-09-2009, 04:57 AM

if i wants to be a dr. how i go about being one?

BigRedBeta · #**198** 02-09-2009, 07:31 AM

4 or 5 years to get your bachelor's degree. During this time you'll need to take 1 year of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and likely college math (including calc). You'll also need clinical experience with patients (either through volunteering or shadowing a physician), campus involvement, and probably some type of research activities. You'll also need to score well on the MCAT. Then apply.

IF you get accepted, med school is 4 years - the first two being basic sciences like anatomy, physiology and pathology, then take Step 1 of the USMLE. The third and fourth years are done in the clinics and you learn how to actually take care of patients. During the end of third year/beginning of fourth year, you'll hopefully narrow down a specialty choice (such as pediatrics or surgery or radiology), apply to residency programs in those fields, interview and then submit a list which has the programs ranked in order of your preference. You get matched with a residency program, then residency lasts for 3-7 years depending on what specialty to you enter and if you decide to pursue extra training through a fellowship to become a sub-specialist (eg cardiologist).

Also, I'm not a doctor...yet: 81 days and counting though!

AOII Angel · #**199** 02-09-2009, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedBeta

4 or 5 years to get your bachelor's degree. During this time you'll need to take 1 year of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and likely college math (including calc). You'll also need clinical experience with patients (either through volunteering or shadowing a physician), campus involvement, and probably some type of research activities. You'll also need to score well on the MCAT. Then apply.

IF you get accepted, med school is 4 years - the first two being basic sciences like anatomy, physiology and pathology, then take Step 1 of the USMLE. The third and fourth years are done in the clinics and you learn how to actually take care of patients. During the end of third year/beginning of fourth year, you'll hopefully narrow down a specialty choice (such as pediatrics or surgery or radiology), apply to residency programs in those fields, interview and then submit a list which has the programs ranked in order of your preference. You get matched with a residency program, then residency lasts for 3-7 years depending on what specialty to you enter and if you decide to pursue extra training through a fellowship to become a sub-specialist (eg cardiologist).

Also, I'm not a doctor...yet: 81 days and counting though!

When's Match Day?

SigKapSweetie · #**200** 02-09-2009, 01:12 PM

March 19th!

cheerfulgreek · #**201** 02-09-2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedBeta

Also, I'm not a doctor...yet: 81 days and counting though!

I can't wait until the day that I can say/type this.

AKA_Monet · #**202** 02-09-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedBeta

Also, I'm not a doctor...yet: 81 days and counting though!

You are a doctor by the way you speak!!!

You know your differentials, you've done your rounds and you are getting ready for your residencies!!! Yeah, pretty much, it is all a matter of that final USMLE, general board and license!

I am proud of your accomplishment... Not anybody can be a doctor!!!

AKA_Monet · #**203** 02-09-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I can't wait until the day that I can say/type this.

You'll get there!!! You have to get this T-shirt that says "Real Doctors See All Kinds of Patients" with all the animals on there...

Have you decided what kind of animals you want to work on? Large animal vet, home pets, fish/frogs/reptiles? Do you decide now? I forget if you do or not...

cheerfulgreek · #**204** 02-10-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

You'll get there!!! You have to get this T-shirt that says "Real Doctors See All Kinds of Patients" with all the animals on there...

Have you decided what kind of animals you want to work on? Large animal vet, home pets, fish/frogs/reptiles? Do you decide now? I forget if you do or not...

I didn't know there was a t-shirt like that.

Actually, I want to work with small animals. I can decide now, but I really don't need to make a decision until I'm close to or done with the classroom work. Depending on the school, some are 2 years classroom work, 2 years clinicals. My school is 2 and a half years classroom work, a year and half clinicals. Either way, it's still 4 years. I start my clinicals after my 1st semester of my 3rd year which is coming up soon. I knew what kind of animals I wanted to work with before I got into vet school, the only change I've made since then is my decision to go into a specialty. So, I'll have another 4 years after I graduate.

AKA_Monet · #**205** 02-10-2009, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I didn't know there was a t-shirt like that.

Actually, I want to work with small animals. I can decide now, but I really don't need to make a decision until I'm close to or done with the classroom work. Depending on the school, some are 2 years classroom work, 2 years clinicals. My school is 2 and a half years classroom work, a year and half clinicals. Either way, it's still 4 years. I start my clinicals after my 1st semester of my 3rd year which is coming up soon. I knew what kind of animals I wanted to work with before I got into vet school, the only change I've made since then is my decision to go into a specialty. So, I'll have another 4 years after I graduate.

Small like guinea pigs? I'll try to find out how to do that... I believe my husband wrote a SOP for someone who does research on them...

And it does not seem lab animal vet for rodents and others is not going to "drastically change" for academia in the near future. It may be not as many animals, but it will still exist for sometime...

So if you go that route, rather than private practice, remember, a lot of path and utter memorization... The ACLAM Diplomate status is like WOW!!!

cheerfulgreek · #**206** 02-10-2009, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Small like guinea pigs? I'll try to find out how to do that... I believe my husband wrote a SOP for someone who does research on them...

And it does not seem lab animal vet for rodents and others is not going to "drastically change" for academia in the near future. It may be not as many animals, but it will still exist for sometime...

So if you go that route, rather than private practice, remember, a lot of path and utter memorization... The ACLAM Diplomate status is like WOW!!!

Well, I was talking about dogs, cats, and smaller. Dogs and cats fall under the small animal category too. Large animals would be cattle, horses, goats, pigs etc. those kinds of animals. Guinea pigs would fall under exotic and laboratory animals, such as ferrets, rabbits, amphibians, caged birds, fish, llamas, alpacas, marine mammals, etc.

Where I work, we primarily work with dogs and cats, but we also get rodents as patients sometimes. The exotic animals such as snakes, hedgehogs, prairie dogs, tarantulas etc. we refer them to a specialist.

It's going to take a lot of work and experience to open a private practice though.

Zephyrus · #**207** 02-15-2009, 02:03 AM

I read BigRedBeta and AKAMonets response. Going into medical school right after highschool made my mouth drop. I've never heard of that, and yeah, I heard that in other countries the needles are saved and re-used.

Last question. Mainly to BigRedBeta and AKAMonet and anyone else who may know the answer.

Something I do know for a fact unless it has changed is that medical care in Canada is free. I think it should also be free here, but unfortunately it's not. I have to pay a $200.00 co-pay and a $600.00 deductable if I were to go to the emergency room, my insurance covers the rest. I see why doctors make so much money in the states, because people have to pay. The question I have is why is it not free here, but in Canada it is?

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #**208** 02-15-2009, 02:04 AM

Because we're not socialists.

Zephyrus · #**209** 02-15-2009, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

Because we're not socialists.

I'm no political king, but what's that got to do with anything? Just make it free. It's already law that you have to be seen when you go to the emergency room rather you have the money or not, but then you still get a bill, and garnishment if you can't pay it. I didn't know Canada was a socialist country.

BigRedBeta · #**210** 02-15-2009, 02:57 AM

The Canadian government (and the governments in many other countries) pay for it. Tax money is used to fund payments to physicians.

As for how this came about, the reason why the US is dominated by private insurance goes back to World War II. Because of the restriction on wages in many industries (in an effort to make sure that all parts of the war effort had sufficient labor) companies couldn't lure new workers with higher salaries/hourly wages. In order to help with recruiting, they offered benefits packages which included things like health insurance. The practice became widespread and after the war when wage restrictions were lifted, benefits packages remained.