I'm back baby!

 This has been one tough summer; but I am finally looking forward and able to get back to blogging.  Here are some miscellaneous thoughts/tips/experiences I've had throughout, and hopefully back to some blogging normalcy.  I returned this week from another trip to the Dominican republic, my 11th trip in the past six years.  It's difficult for me to encapsulate the service learning experience concisely, but I'll give it a shot.
1.  First time bitten by a centipede.  I hope it never happens again.
2.  While writing a SOAP note on a patient, an AT student asked "how do you spell machete"? How many educators have heard that before?
3. Watching students educate injured patients on proper posture, lifting techniques, and making on the fly adjustments to improve quality of life is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.  I will never tire of it.
4. Don't think that just because your patient doesn't walk with a limp (antalgic gait) that they don't have significant pain and/or dysfunction in their lower extremity.  Some people make subtle adjustments without even knowing it.  Fully evaluate with a careful history, palpation, range of motion and manual muscle testing and then special tests before you complete your assessment.
5. Look your patient in the eyes directly when they are speaking to you, and LISTEN.  Sometimes listening and expressing compassion is the best care you can give someone.

That's it for now,  but look for more coming soon!