Hi Doc!

You probably miss me so I thought I'd stop for a second and share some of my thoughts today..

A man in a wheelchair said hello as the three of us in our white coats walked hurriedly past the hospital entrance. I smiled politely as my classmate said hi back. I thought he was one of his patients. Then he asked me if that was my patient. I looked back and saw the patient looking still as if we had an unfinished conversation. I still could not remember if he was my patient. I ran through our list of 23 patients in my head and then it hit me that he was my patient! As I was busy typing my notes this morning, my resident mentioned that we are discharging him. He was transferred to our service 2 days ago, so before 7 am each morning, I have been waking him up to examine him and ask him how he is doing. He said he didn't feel ready to go this morning so I wasn't expecting that he will be going. I meant to stop by his room and say goodbye but I was rushing to finish my 'history and physical' for a patient we admitted last night. I don't like it when I don't get to say goodbye. I wanted to walk back and wish him well and remind him yet again to quit smoking. But we were late for a lecture so I didn't get a chance to do so. It would have only taken a second to say goodbye this morning. It's taking me minutes now to write about it.. Tomorrow, I will make it a point to say goodbye.