On Art and LifeA Day at the Penn Street Women's Center

摘要

I always look forward to my continuity clinic. My program makes a concerted effort to teach us to think of our clinics as our private offices. Some attendings actually insist we refer to it as the "Penn Street Office" and not as simply "the clinic," as we are locally known by patients and colleagues alike. Everything from the physical layout to our professional staff to the scheduling of three patients for one 20-minute appointment is designed to resemble a real-world office practice.The office is such a stark contrast to our lives as residents in inpatient services and labor and delivery. I relish the opportunity, if only for one half day a week, to don professional attire and make autonomous decisions without the formality of rounds or management suggestions from colleagues. I like the face time with patients; I see it as a challenge. I have 10 minutes to interview, examine, assess, and plan. As chaotic and frus-trating as clinic can be, at the end of each session, I really feel like a physician, like I have given a service and fulfilled a need.