May 13, 2018 by drkottaway

core of the forest

For the Daily Prompt: core.

The trees are the core of the forest. Or maybe the core is the earth, the sky, the sun, the rain, the wind, the moon, all together….

May 11, 2018 by drkottaway

from the mist

For the Daily Prompt: forest.

My town is a forest at sunrise and sunset. The trees take over, dark against the sky. And look, something is rising from the mist.

Medicine is like that too. Did the epidemic of unintentional overdose deaths catch you by surprise? People, including doctors, thought opioids were safe, if taken correctly. And that we should increase them if the person still had chronic pain. But the information is still changing and taking shape from the fog.

I have worked with the University of Washington Telepain service since 2011. I can’t attend every week, but many weeks I spend Wednesday lunch in front of the computer, logged on to hear a thirty minute lecture from UW and then to hear cases presented from all over the state.

I want to sing the praises of the doctors on Telepain and the Washington State Legislature for having this program. Here is a link to a five minute King5 news program about UW Telepain.

https://www.king5.com/video/news/local/fighting-opioid-epidemic-via-video/281-8115411

Forty two different sites were logged on. There are also UW Telemedicine programs for hepatitis C and for patients with addiction and psychiatric problems. The advantage is that all of we rural doctors learn from one doctor presenting a patient and the panel discussing it and making recommendations. We have Dr. Tauben, head of the pain clinic, a psychiatrist, a physiatrist, a family doctor who treats opioid addiction, a psychologist and a social worker. And often a guest speaker! We have a standard form to fill out, with no names: year of birth and male or female. It is a team that can help us to care for our patients.

New information in healthcare rises out of the mist….

May 9, 2018 by drkottaway

sky ships

For Wordless Wednesday.

May 8, 2018 by drkottaway

fast cars

For the Daily Prompt: rapid.

There were 550 participants at the Rotary Conference in Tacoma this weekend. Wow! From 90 clubs in our District 5020. There are over 35,000 clubs world wide. Wild polio will hopefully be eradicated soon, and then it will be time to switch from the oral vaccine to the injected and that will take more time. What next?

The fast car above is from the Lemay car museum, but it is currently in the lobby of the Hotel Murano. The Rotarians had passes to the museum on Friday night… hundreds of cars from all eras, including from the time when carriage makers were making car bodies to order. Unique and hand painted and woodwork and gorgeous.