From Bedside to the Blogosphere: The Blog Rounds

In many a medical drama on TV like Gray’s Anatomy or on the big screen like Flatliners or Just Like Heaven, you’d often see a relatively older doctor shepherding a small herd of medical students from one patient to another. The former would be asking a student to present the patient’s problem, discuss the diagnosis, labs, and medicine appropriate for said patient. If the student is lucky, s/he’d be a hit with the consultant physician by churning out the correct answers. If the patient is lucky, s/he’d get the same items discussed to him/her.

This is one version of hospital rounds, the teaching rounds, a pedagogic tool by which young physicians learn the ropes from their mentors- the licensed MD- plus their unwitting teachers- the patients. It’s meant to be an exhilarating(?!) experience- what with all the chance to learn from preeminent doctors! but more often than not (especially for average medical students like myself) it was an excruciating experience. As you are on your toes all the time- it is physically and mentally exhausting. Physically- because the rounds usually last for hours on end and you’re standing 99% of the time. It is mentally exhausting, especially if the cerebral filing cabinet you’re supposed to be getting answers to impress your teacher with is home, not to knowledge, but air and some cobwebs.

Rounds are arguably one part of medical school life that I’m thankful I don’t have to go through ever again.

But, lo and behold, it has come back to haunt me. This time, though, I’m excited to participate in one again! But this time, the rounds have moved, from bedside to the blogosphere.

I’m venturing into THE BLOG ROUNDS, a weekly carnival of bloggers with health professions backgrounds or health-related interests or just interested to be part of it. It is the brainchild of BoneDoc, the mountaineering doctor and blogger currently serving in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.

Here’s why BoneDoc put THE BLOG ROUNDS together; who the carnival participants are; how to join, and; where the carnival’s been hosted so far.

The topics currently have been a garden salad of topics- beginning with basic blogger concerns, mixed with health-related posts, seasoned with Philippine historical footnotes, a dash of technology, and generous scoops of insightful personal sharing. I’m excited to add my own to the great posts submitted thus far.

Take time to read the posts wherever, whenever you see this icon: