"Doc In , Doc Out: An Open Letter Para sa Nagpapafit to work 2021"

 "Doc In , Doc Out: An Open Letter Para sa Nagpapafit to work 2021"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

Dear Ate/Kuya na Nagpapa-Fit To Work,

Ang Fit to work process po ay ginagawa BAGO kayo mag log in sa floor. Pinapadaan po kayo sa Clinic , ichecheck kung kumpleto na ang mga papel ninyo at kung kayo ay physical na puwedeng pumasok. Kung ang pasok niyo po ay 9pm at kayo ay dadaan pa sa prosessong ito mangyari po na agahan ninyo ang pasok ng kaunti dahil di lang po kayo ang kadalasan na pipila para dito.

Kung kayo po ay pumasok na at di na dumaan sa Clinic para dito , wag na po kayong dumaan ng 6am kapag kayo ay pauwi na dahil di na po namin kayo mabibigyan nito. Pinagkait niyo na po sa amin ang tsansa na masabing di pa kayo puwedeng pumasok o di kaya ay magpahinga pa. Sana lang po ay di kayo naghasik ng lagim sa floor na siyang makakaaapekto sa inyong buong team.

Di Umaasa na Magbabago kayo,

Doc June

"Doc In , Doc Out: An Open Letter Para sa Antok 2021"

 "Doc In , Doc Out: An Open Letter Para sa Antok 2021"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

Dear Ate/Kuya na Antok,

Kung di niyo po kayang magtrabaho dahil kayo ay walang tulog. Mangyari po na ipagpaalam na ninyo ng mas maaga sa inyong mga TL. Di yung , nakaligo ka na , nakabiyahe ka pa at higit sa lahat nalakad ang pagkahaba habang pasilyo papunta ng clinic para sabihin lang na di mo kayang magcalls at nahihilo ka dahil wala kang tulog.

May gamot akong ibibigay sa iyo pero nasa iyo na yun kung paano mo gigisingin ang iyong sarili. Marami ding antok sa mga kasama mo at mahirap din ang adjustment kung ikaw eh nasanay na pang araw. Kaya di talaga para sa lahat ang trabahon na ito.

Kung gusto mo ang trabaho at kailangan mo ang trabaho. Matulog ng maayos.Uminom ng kape o energy drink na pamgpagising. Kung di talaga kaya , magsabi sa kinauukulan. Hayaan natin na ang clinic ay maging lugar para sa mga tao na tunay na nangangailang ng tulong at di tulog lang.Salamat.

Sana di na kita makita,

Doc June

"Doc In , Doc Out: Taste Test"

 

"Doc In , Doc Out: Taste Test"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

During a teleconsultation:

Patient: "Feeling ko Doc Covid na ito."

Doctor on Duty(Not Me): "Paano niyo po nasabi?"

Patient: "Wala na po akong panlasa. Nung dinilaan ko po yung sabon kanina wala na talaga."

Wait? What? Baka wala talagang lasa yung sabon.

"Doc In , Doc Out: Para sa mga Nawawalan na ng Pake"

 "Doc In , Doc Out: Para sa mga Nawawalan na ng Pake"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

People are lowering their guards again. On my way to work my neighbors (around 5 or 6 people)  gathered in a circle , without masks , chatting loudly while consuming alcohol. 

I guess it isn't a bad start for the week. Alcohol at 7pm on a Monday Night in the streets. I do hope that they all got vaccinated. Or none of them are asymptomatic carriers. 

Valenzuela has one of the lowest cases in all of NCR and there are more or less 4000 cases per day. Recently the DOH has noticed Spikes in 9 places in the NCR but they did not reveal the numbers or the name of the places with the spikes.

Of course they would see these spikes but they might not be inclined to share the information since it would not justify their continued opening up of the economy. And as I write this NCR is still on Level 3 until November 14. 

If the Dolomite beach incident and the people in the malls and traffic are any indication people are lowering their guards once again. I surely hope that you are not one of them.

I don't want you to be a number. Another statistic. Refuse to be one. Refuse to be that number on the daily news. We have a long way to go. Keep your guard up. It might be late in the game but it is not yet over. 

"Doc In, Doc Out Presents: Isolation."

 "Doc In, Doc Out Presents: Isolation."

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

I had a patient in Isolation tent due to Covid19 precautions. After I had assessed him through phone teleconsult I cleared him to go to work on his shift.I advised that someone would come and get him from Iso tent.He seemed disappointed that I let him go to work. The time was 9pm. The clinic was busy during this time so we thought nothing of this case any longer and moved on to the next.

At a little after Midnight. This same patient came in to the clinic. He claimed that No one fetched him so he slept in his car. For 3 hours. (Forehead Slap)

Hay.

"Doc In, Doc Out Presents: Itutumbong kita"

 

"Doc In, Doc Out Presents: Itutumbong kita"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

Patient called in due to elevated BP with his father who is a Doctor listening on via the speaker phone. 

Nurse (over the phone): Sir so ang concern niyo po ay dahil mataas ang BP ninyo?

Patient: Opo. 

Nurse: Ano po ang latest BP ninyo sir?

Patient: Di pa po ako kumuha ulit.

Nurse: Ano po ang gamit ninyo sir? Digital ba?

Patient: Bakit niyo po ako inaaway? 

Nurse: Huh?

Patient: Kausapin niyo po Papa ko. 

Ala biglang nagtumbong kay Papa!!!

"Doc In, Doc Out Presents: The Unhelpful Prick"

 "Doc In, Doc Out Presents: The Unhelpful Prick"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

As I scrolled through my social media pages this message greeted me:

"Kakapalan ko na mukha ko pero alam kong bawal to.  

May kilala po ba kayong blood type O+. Need lang kasi po asap since ung ate ko ilang beses tinanggihan ng ospital. 4 days sya nag labor sa bahay kundi pa may nag magandang loob na samahan sila di siya mapapaanak. Near QC area po kami. Sana po may makatulong at mag magandang loob. Nag babaka sakali lang na may tumulong.Wala po kaming maibabayad sa mga mag dodonate kundi pasasalamat."

I knew the guy who posted this but sadly cannot help him at this time. I felt bad but the guy who commented first on his plea really ticked me off. This was what he said.

"Universal yung dugo ko kaso kakapatattoo ko lang kasi"

I don't know why people would actually say this to those in need. It is kind of like saying I have what you need but I can't give it to you because...

I mean I don't mind that he has a tattoo ,you can have as many as you want but to say that on this persons pleas for help is downright insensitive.

And the kicker is that before getting his tattoo he did know that his blood can actually be used to save lives. He might have donated in the past as well as he had this knowledge handy. I am not sure if he got tired of doing that he basically destroyed a resource that is hard to replace. Such a waste.

"Doc In, Doc Out Presents: Allergy Season"

"Doc In, Doc Out Presents: Allergy Season"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

Patterns often image as you work and one of them was staring at me in the face as I looked at the census and noticed the sudden rise in Allergic Rhinitis in the last few days.

Patients who never called during all that time they were allowed to work from home were now calling in or dropping by the clinic in the hopes that they would be sent home due to Covid19 protocols.

And another trend showed itself. The Rise of Allergic Rhinitis claims as more and more people were asked to report back to work.

I really have a theory about the reason for this sudden rise. Some of them are really just allergic to work.

(Sigh)

"Doc In , Doc out Presents: Wala naman po."

"Doc In , Doc out  Presents:  Wala naman po."

by:

Virglio F. De leon Jr. MD

Patient called in complaining of a fever ,scratchy throat for 2 days.

Me: Sige po Maam , Sa Baranggay niyo po ba eh maraming Covid19 cases?

Patient: Naku wala po...Kaunti lang.

Me: Huh? Wala po ba or kaunti lang?

Patient: Kaunti lang po Doc pero...Nakalockdown po ang Baranggay namin since Sunday.

Me: Ahhhhhhh...So Marami na nga po. Nakalock down na po eh.

Patient: Opo Medyo po.

Hay. From wala to kaunti to Nakalockdown pala.(Insert face palm here)

"Doc In , Doc Out: The need for Faceshields"

 "Doc In , Doc Out: The need for Faceshields"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

With Cities now making faceshields mandatory a friend of mine posted if this is for safey or business or a waste of money. This was my response:

"At first iniisip ko kung bakit need pa ng face shield. Yes masks and distancing and hand washing should be enough but it should be done by everyone properly. Not everyone does though.

What most people do not realize is that we still have that unconscious urge to touch our faces or even touch the mask that we are wearing, then scratch under the mask. The face shield prevents that. At least to a certain extent. Even helps in the virus to not get into your eyes regardless of how low that could be.

This also helps if the mask underneath is a bit displaced after eating or talking. There is that layer or protection because some would not even notice it.

Things take a lot of getting used to. But there are guidelines in wearing it. Do I like looking / feeling like an astronaut when I just want to buy food in a 7-11? Of course not but am I making all the efforts to secure my family is safer when I get home? 60-80 pesos seems like a low price for that. "

"Doc In , Doc out - The Selfishness of others"

"Doc In , Doc out : The Selfishness of others"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

This story happened last month and has stuck with me as I am reminded that there will always be people who value themselves more than others.

So I went to the Portal Area of UP Ayala Technohub to buy a late dinner at the family mart there.These group of 6 women arrived the same time as me on a taxi. I paid them no mind since I was in a hurry but then they complained that the Starbucks was already closed.(11pm na).

One of them said , "Family mart na lang tayo , May Ice cream din dun." So it made me look at them. They were wearing plain clothes so they might be people living in a dorm nearby. I am sure there was still a curfew on so why were they all out if they were not on their way to work or coming home from it? They did not look like they had an emergency. Unless you count craving for Starbucks coffee or Ice cream an emergency. None of my business as far as I am concerned. They were all wearing masks and face shields.

So I went ahead of them to buy my food and drinks. They entered the Family mart with no regard for social distancing. They took off their face shields and lowered their masks to talk to people on their phones. "Asan kami? Gago nasa Tagaytay na kami" One of them said. Another asked the store clerks kung puwede daw ba silang tumambay sa labas ng Family Mart? Huh? Balak niyo pa talagang maghang out. Hopefully magkakasama sila sa isang bahay pero kung hindi we might be seeing a small cluster of infection here.

As I was going out , another woman lowered her mask and was talking excitedly on the phone , to a baby!!! I don't really know anymore.

This is the kind of attitude that would just let Covid19 continue on. May Curfew , nagcrave ng Ice Cream at Kape di bale na kung sila ang mahawa o makahawa sige labas pa din. Nakafacemask at shield pero inaalis din in an enclosed public space.This is why I have lost faith in most people.

220,000 plus cases and yet still here we are with these kinds of people.

As of this posting there are now more than 300,000 cases in our country along with more than 5000 deaths. And yet the Selfishness of others continues.

"Doc In , Doc Out: Snitches For Health 2020"

"Doc In , Doc Out: Snitches For Health 2020" 

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

I was reading about tapping "tsismosas" for disease surveillance and control the other day. It seemed absurd in general.

Until a TL sent an agent down to the clinic because several people around the said agent were complaining of his coughing for the last couple of days.

Your tsismosas hard at work. I can see the study now.

"A cohort study of Covid19 cases initially reported by Tsismosas in 2020."

"Doc In , Doc Out: Free Corona?"

"Doc In , Doc Out: Free Corona?"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

I was about to give a talk about the 2019 nCoV when I heard this:

Woman on PA: To all participants please proceed to training room for...(Woman Hesistates)....Corona Virus.

Me in training room: ("Ano ako mamimigay ng virus?")

"Doc In , Doc Out: Pasent home"

"Doc In , Doc Out: Pasent home"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

Patient: Magpapasent home ako.

Me:Sino pong may sabi?

Patient: Ang TL ko.

Me: Sige pauwiin ka na niya kamo.

Patient: Pero kailangan daw po ng email...

Me:Sir siya ang magpapauwi hindi ako...ni di ka nga nagpakonsulta sa akin eh.

Patient: (Walk out)

"Doc In , Doc Out Espeyal letter to Patients: Maskaradong Kuya"

"Doc In , Doc Out Espeyal letter to Patients: Maskaradong Kuya"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

Dear Maskaradong Kuya,

Sa Panahon ngayon na nagkakaubusan ng Mask , dumaan na tayo sa Ashfall at ngayon sa risk ng 2019 nCoV eh para kang ewan na nagmamask iaangat sa ilong para makapag yosi ka na kasama din ang mga katulad mo na mukhang mababa na din ang immune system. EH tangalin mo na lang yung mask. Tuluyan mo na yung baga mo. Ganun na din naman ang resulta niyan.

Di Namamahal,

Doc June

"Doc In , Doc Out Espeyal letter to Patients: Dear Kuya Sunog"

"Doc In , Doc Out Espeyal letter to Patients: Dear Kuya Sunog"

by: 

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

Dear Kuyang Sunog,

Ganito. Di kasi ako convinced sa sinasabi mo na nahihilo ka kasi normal ang BP. Pustahan tayo mas mataas pa ang BP ko ngayon sa iyo eh. Kuya tandaan mo dapat di ka mukhang tanned galing sa outting niyo kahapon para maniwala ako. Di ka natulog. Di ka nagpahinga. Mukhang ikaw pa yung driver eh nagpadehydrate ka sa ilalim ng araw. Mahihilo ka talaga. Sana wag mo nang ulitin.

Di Nagmamahal,

Doc June

"Doc In , Doc Out Presents: Naku Doc!"

"Doc In , Doc Out Presents:  Naku Doc!"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

Me:Sige Sir padala po itong pantakip at umupo kayo dun sa dulo. Patakpan ang kaliwang mata. Pabasa itong lihira ng #7.
Patient: (Patient uses hand to cover left eye)
Me:Sir pakigamit po yung pantakip.
Patient: Opo(Patient uses eye cover on right eye)
Me: Ayan sir. May nakikita pa ba kayo?
Patient: Naku Doc wala na po.
Me: Sige sir ulitin natin ha....

"Doc In , Doc Out Presents: Super!!!!"

"Doc In , Doc Out Presents: Super!!!!"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

Patient: Nurse! Pahingi ako ng gamot sa Super Allergic Rhintis!!
Me:(Talking to myself) Allerta + Kryptonite ang kailangan mo Maam!

Ano ang itsura ng di super Rhinitis? Nakasalamin? May bangs na di nasusuklay?

"Doc In , Doc Out Presents: felopzd2020!!!"

"Doc In , Doc Out Presents: felopzd2020!!!"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

Me: Sige sir pabasa po yung lihira ng number 7.
Patient: (may buwelo, pasigaw,with feelings) FELOPZD!!!!!
Me: paisa isang letra lang po sir...

And it is official. The First FELOPZD of 2020. Nakakamiss eh. #felopzd2020

"Doc In , Doc Out Presents: Locker Request"

"Doc In , Doc Out Presents: Locker Request"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.MD

Meanwhile in a Certain Company Clinic in QC: Locker Request

Me: (Minding my own business while doing my business in the urinal stall when the two agents on my left started talking).

Agent#1: "Pre pupunta ako ng clinic mamaya. Magpapalit ako ng locker. Masyadong mababa eh."

Agent#2: "Gage , tatanungin ka nung Doctor kung bakit gusto mong magpapalit ng locker."

Agent#1: "Kayang kaya ko yun. Sabihin ko lang masakit paminsan minsan.Aray aray masakit Doc.( Agent holds lower back as if in pain.)

Agent#2: "Gage ang galing mo talaga ha. Hahahahha

Agent#1: Siyempre. Hahahahahahahh

At this point I also joined in on the laughter. I couldn't help myself. I was imagining what the guy would say to me when he finally enters the clinic. Both agents turned to me. Realized who I was. Stopped laughing and awkwardly stepped out of the bathroom.

I was waiting for the guy the whole shift. I might have granted his request too.