RECIPES: My Own Potato-Leek Soup! :-)

Ok so I'm a bit nervous about this post because I really don't have a super amount of confidence in my own vegan cooking skills & I've never written a recipe before but....I'm going to take a courageous leap!!  I won't do this often (remember, I'm a doctor NOT a chef!) but here is my recipe for my very own Potato-Leek Soup :-) (a version of Ann Esselstyn's Potato Soup from Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease):

Potato-Leek Soup (reminds me of the potato leek soup made by my Mom when I was little! It tastes like POTATOES and NOT cream!)

Makes 4-6 servings

i

1 pound potatoes--Yukon Gold and Red Russet are best

1 Leek

1 cup Oat Milk

1/4-1 cup water

1-2 Tbl dry Dill

salt and pepper to taste

1.  Wash the potatoes and leave the skins on.  Chop them up and put them in a big pot.  Fill the pot with water up until the potatoes are just floating off the bottom of the pot.  Boil the potatoes until the potatoes can be easily mashed in with a fork--usually about 20 mins.  

2.  While the potatoes are boiling, cut the bottom off the leek and thoroughly wash all the leek fronds.  Chop each frond into approximately ¼-1/2 inch pieces.

3.  Place the fronds in a frying pan and sauté in about 3 Tbl water (or vegetable broth) until the pieces are soft and brown-tinged. Add more water (or vegetable broth) as needed to maintain the sauté.

4.  Once the potatoes are done, drain off the water

5.   Put the cooked potatoes, the sauteed leeks (including the leeks’ sautéing water/broth) and 1/4 cup of water in a food processor and puree.  While pureeing add the cup of Oat milk, 1Tbl Dill and the salt & pepper.  If the soup is too chunky for your taste, thin it with more water.  Feel free to use more oat milk to increase creaminess or more dill (I use a LOT more dill because I LOVE dill)!

6.  Either transfer the now pureed soup back into a pot to heat up OR if it is still warm enough--serve directly from the food processor!


Ok!  Hope it turns out yummy for you too!  My husband loves it so its a winner in my book :-)


Merry Christmas Eve to all those that celebrate it!  

Coming Up After the Holidays:

• SuperImmunity for Kids ~Part 2~!
• A Truly Healthy New Year
• Medical System Tuesday: Tip #10 For The Best Hospital Care:  Try Not to Be Alone! ~ Insider Tips on How to Get the BEST Medical Care in the Hospital ~
• Sleep, Why it is Critical to Our Health!
• Treating Pain with Food--more thoughts

The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.  Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. The Happy Rehab Doc expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site.  By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions.

ONE DAY LEFT to contribute medical stories to the Holiday Happiness Marathon!! Join us!! :-)

If you are a patient, have you ever had a good medical experience that made you grateful for your healthcare provider and modern medicine?  Or, if you are a healthcare provider do you remember any moments with patients that made you happy you became a doctor, nurse, etc?  


Are you willing to briefly share one of those stories with my other readers?  (stories should be no more than 1-2 paragraphs in length).
From December 19th to December 25th I'm going to host the "Holiday Happiness Marathon:  Doctors, Nurses & Patients Share Special Medical Moments!"  In the midst of all the chaos of the season, this post series is a special week to pause for a quick moment & smile as you read positive stories about healing :-)


I already have doctors, nurses & patients lined up to share their stories (I've gotten some already from the docs & they are AMAZING), but there is room for some more!! 


So if you want to take a quick break from the holiday madness & join the story-telling marathon, shoot me an email with your story (no more than 1-2 paragraphs long) to happyrehabdoc@gmail.com and I'll add you to the marathon!  I need all the stories by no later than the end of the day on THIS Wednesday, December 14 (THAT IS TOMORROW!!).  It doesn't have to be perfect, it just needs to come from you! :-)

 Hope to hear from you!  

Ten Things I Do to Keep Those Nearly 100lbs Off!! (AND more Before & After photos! :-))

I realize that most of you do not have an eating disorder like mine.  But maybe some parts of the things I do can help you too!  I can only share from my own experience, but here is how I've lost the weight & maintained my recovery for the last four years.  Trust me, it was not "willpower!"  I don't have any when it comes to food!  You already know what I EAT (I wrote about it here and here ), so here is what I DO!

BEFORE- 268LBS

#1:  I Write It Down:  
I write down my food report, my food plan, my step work & then I journal when I'm feeling emotions that may be challenging for me to handle without food.  For the first three years of program I emailed my sponsor nearly every night to report what I ate that day.  This made me accountable to her and to myself.  I also tried to quickly jot down my plan for what I would eat the next day. My committing my plan to paper removes the need to think about food the next day.  I know what I will eat.  For my recovery (and everyone in my 12 step compulsive eating recovery group has a different program) I don't HAVE to eat what I plan the next day--I just do my best. I don't food report right now unless I'm feeling shaky but I do still try to write a food plan in my journal the night before.  If you are not in a 12 step compulsive eating recovery group or another similar program, I recommend getting a buddy that you can send your food to--it REALLY helps!


#2:  I Eat TWO cups of Vegetables with Lunch & Dinner. 
My sponsor told me to do this so I do.  It was hard to do at first because that is a LOT of vegetables but its easy now.  I can't eat as much other food because it fills me up. It also gives me the nutrients I need. I usually stick to dark leafy greens like kale & spinach.  I like those tossed with a few dried cranberries (not the ones with added refined sugar, the ones sweetened with apple juice:  Whole Foods has them!)  Its really yummy like that!

AFTER:
AT THANKSGIVING THIS YEAR!

#3:  I Cook in Bulk:  
We cook in bulk once a week & refrigerate or freeze all our meals in BPA-free tupperware.  We do this mostly because my husband & I usually do not have the time or the energy to cook during the week plus we need to bring our food to work (there is barely anything we can eat at our hospital cafeterias AND we are trying to pay off my massive student loan debt by being frugal).  See my posts on our methods of bulk cooking: here, here & here.


#4:  I Don't Weigh Myself:  
I stopped weighing myself regularly at the beginning of my program.  I did this because EVERY time in the past (in my many, MANY years of dieting before I started this 12 step compulsive eating recovery program) when I lost enough weight to get down to near 200lbs, I shot right back up.  I don't know why--it just happened that way.  So I only weigh myself every few months--sometimes I've gone 6 months without stepping on a scale.  We don't own one.  And removing the "weight game" brings so much sanity to my life.  I measure progress by how I feel, not what the scale says!  I only mention numbers now because people always want to know how much weight I've lost.


#5:  I Use My Community Support:  I tend to seek my main support from my 12 step compulsive eating recovery community because they can relate to my history of obesity and food dysfunction.  My phone has about 20+ 12 step compulsive eating recovery program members from my local meetings so I can rapid dial when I'm in a bad situation--like very hungry driving home from work & obsessing about food because I forgot my snack!  By the time I'm done with talking--even if all I do is leave messages--I'm sane again.  Its a miracle!  I reach out to my non-compulsive eating friends and my family too!  I also have great support from my husband, the Happy Nurse (he is ah-maze-ing).  Very grateful.  Other things I do:  I go to 12 step compulsive eating recovery program meetings and I listen to free podcasts from iTunes of 12 step compulsive eating recovery program speakers in Los Angeles that inspire me (just search for "12 step LA speakers" in iTunes & you'll find them!).  


All that said, you don't need a 12 step compulsive eating recovery program to build a community of support to stay healthy--reach out and ask for help if you need it.  You'll be surprised at how powerful it is!
   
#6:  I Don't Watch TV:   
Yup, that's right!  Our TV is for DVD viewing only.  No cable.  We download shows one episode at a time on our computers when I want to watch something & my hubby watches Hulu.  TV for me is another addiction and that is why I avoid it. And of course, due to work, we are rarely home!  As a side benefit I get to miss all the commercials about foods that are not good for me! 


#7:  I Keep Emergency Snacks:  
I always have an emergency snack--a few flaxseed crackers, a date or two, some trail mix, a piece of fruit--available in my glove compartment or my work bag.  Raging hunger is a dangerous thing for me so I try to avoid that.  


#8:  I Follow What My Sponsor Says & I Give Service & Sponsor Others:  
So much of food addiction recovery involves surrender.  I kept doing things "my way" for years and guess what--it doesn't work!  So I look to my sponsor (another member of my 12 step compulsive eating recovery program with a strong recovery) to guide me.  I give a lot of service--I sponsor people, I help with meetings, I make calls to my people in need and I look for opportunities to give.  When I give to others I get out of my own head and turn my thoughts to their needs.  I share my story as often as I can because I have a responsibility to give the gift of hope as others have done for me.


#9:  I Keep My Abstinence No Matter What:  
Everyone's "abstinence" in my 12 step compulsive eating recovery program is different & defined by the member & their sponsor.  To use more familiar terms, "abstinence" is the equivalent of "sobriety" in AA.  I don't care if I'm exhausted from work, sad because I lost a patient, upset at my husband/family/friends, joyous over an accomplishment or sick with the flu--I will not eat the foods that my sponsor & I decided were unsafe for me to eat.  If I have one bite--I will binge--it is impossible for me to only eat one serving.  I am NEVER going back to the way I was before.  And I know with the support of my Higher Power (HP) & the life skills I have learned from OA, I will not have to feel the pain of working my way towards 300lbs & hating myself for it.


#10:  I Meditate, I Pause & I Listen to My Higher Power:  
I meditate to guided meditation because I have NO ability to silence my brain.  I need someone talking to me and telling me how to relax! My fav right now is a free iPhone app called "Spiritual Healing by the American Monk."  It is awesome--8 mins long.  It helps me stay centered.


I PAUSE.  If my eating disorder is active, when I sit down to eat I feel like a train running out of control.  I have to eat as much and as quickly as possible.  All I can think is MORE MORE MORE!  The way I stop this is by pausing--I sit before my food and take a deep breath.  I close my eyes for a quick second and make my whole body completely still.  And I listen for guidance from my heart (my HP).  And then I start eating--a much calmer, saner person!  Physically stilling myself before meals seems to be the key to not overeating.  I don't need to do this all the time, but I do practice it fairly frequently. 


For me, my Higher Power (HP) is the voice in my heart that is the best version of myself, the version of myself that wants only the best for me, that is kind & can see things clearly & calmly. The way I understand this program concept is that everyone defines their own HP in the 12 step compulsive eating recovery program--it can be God, it can be nature, it can be the recovery group, it can really be ANYTHING greater than yourself that can stop you from acting in your addiction.  


OK!  So that is all I know right now.  Remember that I am not a spokesperson for any 12 step compulsive eating recovery program--I'm just one member sharing my honest experience, strength & hope the way we are taught to do.  Thank you for letting me share this with you!

Coming Up Next Week:

• BOOK REVIEW:  "29 Gifts!"
• SuperImmunity for Kids ~Part 2~!
• Practical Stuff:  Kitchen Tools That Help & Products I Like! (Gift Ideas?!)

Coming Up on Medical System Tuesday: 

• Tip #9 For The Best Hospital Care:  Pay Attention ~ Insider Tips on How to Get the BEST Medical Care in the Hospital ~

The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.  Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. The Happy Rehab Doc expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site.  By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions.

This is AMAZING! I'm the Herbie of the Week & the blog explodes :-)

Ok so I got an email from Lindsay (The Wonderful Happy Herbivore herself) this afternoon just as I was rushing out from the hospital to travel to a conference!  She told me that she just posted my story on her blog as the Herbie of the Week!!!!!!  I had an exciting read from my iPhone and some quick frenetic Facebook typing and then I had to get on the road!!  


Now I'm safe and sound at my destination and can take a deep breath and check out the blog.  WOWOWOW!  I've never seen my Feedjit so busy!  It just keeps scrolling!!  


Thank you thank you thank you Lindsay for sharing my story with your readers!  I can't stop smiling from reading the comments--I love the warmth!!  So for those of you joining our little blog community here--WELCOME!  Excited to have you join us & ridiculously happy right now :-)  


I hope that my story helps you believe that ANYONE can recover--our body's incredible resilient capacity has been proven time after time if we are willing to ask for help & change our lifestyle!  I believe that there is no need to live life in pain or ill health.  I'm passionate about trying to find even more ways to keep healing and I will share what I discover along the way.  I hope you will too! Hearing your stories inspires me & helps me learn so please feel free always to share in comments--I love to hear what you have to say!! 


My goal is to have the blog serve as a resource to help make your life healthier, happier and pain-free!  And this includes YOU too my fellow health care providers (docs, nurses, techs, RTs, NPs, PAs, etc)!  When we engage in healing ourselves, we can truly be of service to our patients.  At least that has been my experience :-)


***By the way, Lindsay was kind enough to answer some questions about her own health quest & her NEW cookbook the Everyday Happy Herbivore .  Tune in for the interview in my next post!!***

Fantastic news! Ms. Lindsay Nixon's NEW Cookbook is out!!! The EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE!!! Special RECIPE preview!!!

I literally just left a patient's hospital room where I was counselling him on the health potentials of a plant-based diet and came back to my office, only to hear the best news! 

I'm VERY excited to share that my FAVORITE chef, Lindsay Nixon, has just put out her NEW COOKBOOK:  THE EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE!!  I had already given the patient the information on her first cookbook (The Happy Herbivore Cookbook), but it looks like after I finish this post--I'm going to head back in there and give him the information on how to get THE EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE! as well! Not only is her food super healthy, but it also is delicious--this is why I share about her to my patients! If they cook her meals, I know they'll stick to the lifestyle changes I recommend!

Now you all know how I raved about Ms. Nixon's culinary and nutritional talents in my previous posts: here and here so I of course can't wait to get the new cookbook.  She has been kind enough to share one of the recipes from THE EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE! with me to provide all of you with a "taste" (so to speak) of what we can look forward to in this new effort!  Check the end of this post for the recipe for a fantastic looking Sweet Potato Dal!!  YUMMMMMMMM!!  And you can BUY her new cookbook, The Everyday Happy Herbivore, on Amazon by clicking HERE

A little background on Ms. Nixon from her impressive press kit:
"Lindsay S. Nixon is a rising star in the culinary world, praised for her ability to use everyday ingredients to create healthy, low fat recipes that taste just as delicious as they are nutritious. Lindsay's recipes have been featured in Vegetarian Times, Women's Health Magazine and on The Huffington Post. Lindsay is also a consulting chef at La Samanna, a luxury resort and four-star restaurant in the French West Indies. You can learn more about Lindsay and sample some of her recipes at happyherbivore.com

After vegan chef Lindsay S. Nixon wrapped up her popular cookbook The Happy Herbivore Cookbook last year, she went back to her kitchen in her new home of St. Maarten. Island living encouraged Nixon to come up with simpler fare, which led to a follow-up cookbook focusing on recipes that bring tasty back to quick-and-easy.

Now, in Nixon's much-anticipated follow-up cookbook, THE EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE!!  , readers will see, once again, that just because plant-based eating is optimal for health, it doesn't have to also be expensive or time-consuming.

THE EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE!!  includes more than 175 doable recipes--recipes that are so quick and easy, you could cook three healthy meals from scratch every day like Nixon does.

Each of Nixon's recipes are made with wholesome, easy-to-find, fresh ingredients and include no added fats. With additional notes indicating recipes that are ideal for preparing ahead of time and those you can whip up with just a few dollars, THE EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE!!   will be the must-have cookbook for anyone desiring a healthier, happier menu!"

A FREE RECIPE FROM HER NEW COOKBOOK THE EVERYDAY HAPPY HERBIVORE!!  

Sweet Potato Dal |
serves 2

This soup is Dal-icious! It’s so flavorful you’ll want seconds. and thirds!

1 small sweet potato, skinned
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp garam masala, plus extra
1 cup vegetable broth, plus extra
1/2 cup red lentils
4 cups spinach, or more
salt

Dice sweet potato into small ½-inch cubes, and set aside. Line a medium pot with a thin layer of water and saute onions and garlic for a minute. Add a pinch or two red pepper flakes and continue to cook until all the water has cooked off. Add turmeric, ¼ tsp garam masala and stir to coat. Add 1 cup broth, uncooked lentils, and bring to a boil. Once boiling reduce to low, cover, and simmer for a few minutes, about 5. Add sweet potatoes, bring to a boil again and reduce to low and simmer, until lentils are fully cooked (they expand and the sauce thickens), about 5 minutes more. Check periodically to see if you need additional broth (I tend to add an extra ½ cup but it can vary). Once lentils are cooked and sweet potatoes are fork tender, taste, adding more garam masala as desired (I like to add another ¼ tsp but some blends are stronger than others). Add spinach, continuing to stir until spinach cooks down and softens. Add salt to taste and serve.
Per Serving: 232 Calories, 0.9g Fat, 42.2g Carbohydrates, 17.7g Fiber, 4.7g Sugar, 15.4g Protein

Coming Up This Week:

• BOOK REVIEW:  "29 Gifts!"
• SuperImmunity for Kids ~Part 2~!
• Practical Stuff:  Kitchen Tools That Help & Products I Like!

Coming Up Next Time on Medical System Tuesday: 

• Tip #9 For The Best Hospital Care:  Pay Attention ~ Insider Tips on How to Get the BEST Medical Care in the Hospital ~

The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.  Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. The Happy Rehab Doc expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site.  By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions.

Tip #8 For The Best Hospital Care: Be Nice ~ Insider Tips on How to Get the BEST Medical Care in the Hospital ~

Today we continue our series on how to get the best hospital care--this post is pretty much common sense but you would be surprised at how easy it is to have The Golden Rule disappear out the window in crisis.  The purpose of this series however is for you to learn how to get the BEST hospital care, and if I didn't mention this than I would be remiss in achieving this goal.  


Please be nice is the FIRST & strongest piece of advice I gave my hospitalized family member AND all other members of my family.  So they were nice and things went a lot better (nurses gave quick assistance with a smile & physicians spent longer time in the room).  Take this advice to heart--if you do nothing else, follow this tip!


Tip #8:  Be Nice:  One of my Mom's best friends always said: "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."  This REALLY applies in the hospital setting.  I realize that when your are sick you don't feel much like "making nice" and when you are worried about your family you "just want answers." But the reality of the situation is that medical personnel are just that--people! 

Every person wants to be treated with courtesy and you WILL get better & more responsive care if you are kind to the nurses/physicians/techs/cleaning persons/administrative assistants/social workers/dietary staff.  

I know (from being on the patient side of things) that some staff members don't return the favor & this may not seem fair.  To be honest, I had to sometimes ACTIVELY tell myself not to snap at people last week as I sat with my sick family member.  I kept reminding myself of the following key point:  most staff members are not actively trying to be rude--they are stressed, they are understaffed & they are trying to please a lot of different people at once.  By surprising them by being nice, they will look forward to coming into your room--this translates into more attentive care.

With regards to the nursing staff & techs--one last thought.  Please remember not to treat them like they are your servant & remember that you are not their only patient.  Don't "speak down to them."  If you need something within your own reach & you are well enough than get it (*without doing anything you were told NOT to do by the nurse/doc*), than do it for yourself. 

• Please don't be like a patient I saw the other night who had the staff running in and out of the room trying to please her requests.  The evening culminated in her asking me to comb her hair & get her skin cream for her even though both items were on the tray in front of her & she was more than capable to do so herself.  I had to sit down & talk to her about the importance of bundling her requests & asking only for things that she cannot do herself so the staff could do their job for all the other patients on the floor.  After the explanation she seemed to understand & the staff enjoyed caring for her much more!  

That said, there are limits to this suggestion. If you believe that someone is actually actively being harmful to your or your family members than ABSOLUTELY you should stop them firmly & ask to talk to the nurse manager or patient care advocate immediately.  If its an issue with a doctor you can "ask for a second opinion."  Just no matter how angry you are, take a deep breath & ask nicely--things will get fixed a lot faster.

Coming Up Next Time on Medical System Tuesday: 

• Tip #9 For The Best Hospital Care:  Pay Attention ~ Insider Tips on How to Get the BEST Medical Care in the Hospital ~

Coming Up This Week:

• BOOK REVIEW:  "29 Gifts!"
• SuperImmunity for Kids ~Part 2~!
• Practical Stuff:  Kitchen Tools That Help & Products I Like!!

The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.  Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. The Happy Rehab Doc expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site.  By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions.

Tip #7: Know Your Doctors: A Short Guide to Hierarchy! ~ More Insider Tips on How to Get the BEST Medical Care in the Hospital ~

Who are all these people who introduce themselves as doctors in the hospital?  Here is a short guide to what each title means:  

Attendings:  These are the most senior physicians.  In a teaching hospital they are in charge of the fellows, residents, interns, "observers" & medical students. 

• All of the junior physicians are operating under this doctor's license as most of the fellows/residents/interns have their MD or DO but do not have their license.  Therefore the attending tends to oversea the teams work to make sure it is safe & also spends a lot of time using patients to teach the junior physicians.  
• You will not see the attending physician very often except usually briefly on morning rounds with the whole team.  
• They tend to not be aggressively involved in patients care because they want to train the fellows & residents to make independent clinical decisions under their oversight. 
• The attending often only knows what the resident presents to the team--so make sure that your resident gets all the details on your condition so they can present your case as accurately as possible to get the BEST guidance (and the BEST care for you!)  That said, when the attending rounds in your room in the morning & you don't hear him or her mention your most concerning issue than absolutely bring it up--it may not have gotten included in the resident's presentation.
•  In the operating room, the attending usually either does the most challenging part of a procedure or carefully oversees the fellow/resident's surgeries & the PAs/NPs.

Fellows:  These are M.D.'s or D.O.'s who have completed their residency & are now going for an additional level of training in a very specialized area. 

• For example, in my field, when you finish residency you can become a "board certified Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation" doctor.  But if you want to do interventional pain, then you need to do an accredited fellowship to become "Board-Certified" in Pain!
• Most of them are licensed in the state they practice in.

Residents:  These are the people most involved in your daily care.  They are junior physicians, M.D.'s & D.O's at approximately 2-6 years out of medical school. Their job is to learn to be an independent clinician.

• The attending physician is usually a hands off supervisor unless safety is involved.  This is to try to teach them as much independent clinical decision making as possible.
• They are often the closest line to the attending physician but more importantly, these people are responsible for managing all your daily orders, your admission, your discharge & your medications. If they have interns under them, than they supervise the intern's executions of these activities.
• They usually lead a team of interns and other junior residents (if they are past 2nd year). 
• At night they will often be totally on their own at the hospital--no senior physician is in-house.  They can call the attending if a major crisis occurs but this is relatively rare.
• They generally RUN the codes (when a person has a cardiac arrest or is found unresponsive, etc
• They are on call frequently (this means that they spent the night in a small bed in the hospital & may or may not have gotten any sleep depending on the specialty)  and may seem quite tired.  Be patient with them when this appears to be the case.

Interns:  First year doctors.  The worker bees.  Their job is to do all the paperwork associated with your admission & discharge:  orders, prescriptions, etc. AND simultaneously be learning as much as possible.

• They will usually be the ones to write your admission note, your daily progress notes and your discharge summary.  
• They will usually be the first person to your bed in a crisis or code.  
• They are generally awake all night long when they are on call & take turns covering nearly all the patients in the hospital. 
• They will be the first person you see in the morning & the last person you see at night.  

Medical Students:  These are "doctors-in-training" and should introduce themselves as such even if the staff addresses them as doctor (as I was addressed during my training).  

• They will usually manage the daily notes for 1-5 patients under the supervision of the resident & intern.  
• They should NEVER be the only person who examines you daily and if this happens, make SURE that the resident & intern & even the attending know that the student is being allowed or told to operate independently as if they are a doctor.  
• Third year medical students are in their first year of clinical exposure.  
• Fourth year medical students are in their last year of training & should be preparing for intern-level responsibilities.

Ok! That should be everyone!  Hope this helps!


Coming Up on Next Week's Medical System Tuesday: 

• Tip #8 For The Best Hospital Care:  Be Nice ~ Insider Tips on How to Get the BEST Medical Care in the Hospital ~ 

Coming Up THIS Week!

• SuperImmunity Foods for KIDS (Calling All PARENTS!)
• RECIPES & Ideas: Snacks!  YUMMY & Portable Plant-Based Snack Food--all sugar-free, gluten-free & without adding oil or fat!!

The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.  Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. The Happy Rehab Doc expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site.  By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions.

RECIPES: What the Happy Nurse & I Are Eating THIS Week!:-)

The Healthy Librarian's version of Robin Robertson's
Sweet Potato-Spinach-Roasted Tomato-Peanut Soup

This week is going to be particularly awesome because we will have food in the house!! Between work on the Spinal Cord Injury unit and visiting my dear family member every night at the hospital, the last two weeks have been a lot of eating take-out.  If I see the name Pei Wei again I think I actually might be ill!  


Anyways, thanks to a four day weekend I've had some time to plan to do a little cooking!  This is pretty much the FIRST Thankgiving in YEARS that I haven't been working!!!  Hooray!!  Of course my hubby, the Happy Nurse, did work Thanksgiving but he has this weekend off too so yay!!  And, best news ever, my family member is out of the hospital and tucked in at home in good health & spirits :-)


So this week we'll be eating (and I'm planning for us to cook enough for the next 2-3 weeks so thats why there is a multitude!):  

 Barley Soup, TJ's 17 Bean & Barley Soup & Aztec Corn Soup
in our NEW 3-in-1 Slow Cooker!!

Soups [all freeze well, and with our NEW 3-in-1 slow cooker (only $35 at Walmart!), SO easy to make multiple soups at the same time!!]


1)  The Healthy Librarian's version of Robin Robertson's Sweet Potato, Spinach, Fire-Roasted Tomatoes, and a Bit of Peanut Butter Soup
2)  The Happy Herbivore's Aztec Corn Soup from The Happy Herbivore Cookbook
3)  17 Bean & Barley Soup with dried beans mix from Trader Joe's (Recipe on the package & on a website I found via Google!)
4) Barley Soup (my own basic recipe--vegetable broth, barley, garlic, oregano, basil, salt & pepper)


Sandwich fillers & Sandwiches:
1) Curried Bean Dip from Susan O'Brien's Cookbook: The Gluten-Free Vegan
2) Artichoke-Bean Dip from Ann Esselstyn (Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease)
3) Kale & Lemon Sandwiches by Ann Esselstyn on The Healthy Librarian


Main Courses:
1) Enlighted Big Vegn's Creamy Triple Mushroom Fettucine (without the gluten Seitan)
2) Steak & Pepper Fajitas (The Happy Herbivore Cookbook)
3)  Tempeh Joes (The Happy Herbivore Cookbook)
4)  Hawaiian Chickpea Teriyaki (The Happy Herbivore Cookbook)
5)  Portobello Steaks (The Happy Herbivore Cookbook)


Sides:
1) Mashed Potatoes (potatoes, oak milk, salt & pepper)
2)  Frozen veggies (Thank You Trader Joes)!
YUMYUMYUM!!

Coming Up THIS WEEK:

• SuperImmunity Foods for KIDS (Calling All PARENTS!)
• RECIPES & Ideas: Snacks!  YUMMY & Portable Plant-Based Snack Food--all sugar-free, gluten-free & without adding oil or fat!!

Next Time on Medical System Tuesdays (new feature on the blog):

• Tip #7:  Know Your Doctors: A Short Guide to Hierarchy! ~ More Insider Tips on How to Get the BEST Medical Care in the Hospital ~

The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.  Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. The Happy Rehab Doc expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site.  By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions.

Tip #6: Know the Role That Each Person Plays In The Hospital Team (quick cheat sheet) ~ Insider Tips on How to Get the BEST Medical Care in the Hospital ~

Who are all those people working in the hospital & what do they do?? 

Continuing our journey into the foreign land of the hospital, lets meet the team...

• Nurse:  Your tour guide.  Responsible for your day to day care. Manages meds, personal care, intake & output & executes doctors orders.  Eases patient's anxiety and deals with overwhelmed (and often emotional, highly stressed) families. Have the most comprehensive view of the patient's condition & can usually make or break a patient's progress.  Their insights are extremely valuable.  Most are very intelligent, highly educated or experienced and have the patient's best interests at heart. Some are not and do not (but I've found these folks to be few & far between).  There are a lot of different kinds of nurses:  RN, LPN (LVN), APN(NP)) and I'll devote a guest post to my husband (THE HAPPY NURSE) to explain all of these sub-types and specialties but on the floor you will usually see either RN's or LPNs/LVNs. A good medical team always takes nurses' assessments into account with great weight when making any patient care decisions.  I do not recommend being rude to your nurse.  Please treat them with the respect they deserve.  Frequently understaffed.

• Tech:  Your helping hand.  Responsible for a long laundry list of tasks including: recording vitals, running EKG's, assisting nurses in complex tasks (i.e. wound care, etc), helping you to the restroom, helping with your grooming/bathing/dressing & managing your transfers (moving from the chair to the bed, etc) so you won't fall.  Also many times get stuck running patient's errands.  Be very nice to them.  They are not your servants. Also frequently understaffed.

• Social Worker:  Your tour management company.  Responsible for coordinating your admission and discharge.  Arranges home services, equipment, transportation and plugs you into community, government resources.  Tracks down absent family members to assist with your care upon discharge & obtain data on your advanced directives, insurance, etc if you are unable to do so.  Manages the majority of communications with your family as a whole.  Directs "family meetings" about end-of-life issues & your care plan.  Overworked, underpaid and usually extremely nice people.

• Physical Therapist (PT):  Your Coach.  The key to your physical independence.  Their job is to help you walk again, get you strong, and push you to become as independent as possible. They are experts in the appropriate exercises for each specific surgery, illness or injury.  They generally tailor your program to return to or exceed your pre-hospital activity level upon discharge or after home/outpatient care.  They focus primarily on training the lower body and OT usually focusses on the upper body, but there is overlap. These people are extremely nice and motivated.  I have yet to meet a PT (or OT for that matter) that I don't like.

• Occupational Therapist (OT): Your ADL guru.  In rehab, the term "ADLs" refers to "Activities of Daily Living" and OT's are the experts in these.  Eating, bathing, dressing and toileting are the basics, but their skills range to helping physically replicate your daily routine (i.e. cooking, laundry, etc) to allow you to function as independently as possible at home.  They are extremely innovative in providing you with adaptive devices that can allow you to function independently--from splints to "reachers."  Once again, nicest people ever!

• Speech-Language Pathologists: Your Translator. Most of you will not meet these therapists but if you have trouble swallowing, speaking or processing language (like after a stroke), these people will be your best friend.  They are exceptionally well-trained and patient.  They do things ranging from the extremely technical (modified barium swallows and FEES to determine the quality of your ability to swallow) to the physical (speech & swallow exercises).  They also do cognitive assessments in patients with suspected dementia or brain injury.  Once again, like all the other therapists--I have found them to be VERY kind.

• Nurse Pracitioners & Physician's Assistants:  Your Doctor's Point Person.  Depending on what state you are in, responsibilities & level of independence of NP's and PA's varies.  Detailing the differences between each & their training is going to have to be a future independent post as it is very complicated to describe each one's scope of practice.  For your purpose's know that they are the DIRECT line to your doctor.  They often have more experience than the doctor they work with and can offer you very important information.  They will manage your day to day care in the hospital if the doc doesn't have any residents (and sometimes even when the doc does!). If they are a surgeon's PA or NP they are often in the OR with the Doc assisting in the surgery as well.

• Doctors: Your Team Leader:  I'm going to devote a whole post this week to doctors.  For now know that the different categories of doctors include:
• Attendings
• Fellows
• Residents
• Interns
• Medical Students

• Dietician:  Your secret weapon. Obviously I'm a huge fan of anyone whose job revolves around helping my patients become nutritionally healthy.  The dietician does nutritional assessments, makes recommendations to the team on how to nutritionally optimize your ability to heal and can intercede on your behalf to improve your meal choices & content.  Once again, very nice, very smart people.

Other people you will see who are not involved in DIRECT clinical patient care include:

• Administrative Assistant for the Unit (also known as the Unit Secretary depending on the hospital):  This person has a crazy intense job.  They answer phones & patient call lights & communicate needs to nursing staff.  They organize all the massive paperwork in everyone's charts.  In hospitals without electronic medical records, they enter all the orders.  They administratively admit & discharge patients--serving as a hub for coordinating all the services on the floor--from housekeeping to transport to maintenance.  I'm sure I've missed a bunch of stuff but you get the gist.    
• Housekeepers:  Big job, small time frame.  These folks have to clean and sanitize rooms between patients (very time-pressured turn around) AND make sure patient rooms are kept hygienic.  They deal with contaminated trash & are responsible for managing all that laundry you see everywhere! A key role in minimizing hospital infectious diseases. Without them, all those MRSA and VRE patient rooms would spread disease from one patient to another. A lot of work, very underappreciated.
• Dietary Staff:  manage your food--from ordering to delivering.  You see these folks three times a day and often their sunny moods (or lack thereof) really sets the tone for the day.  They have to keep food hot through long distances and make sure that each patient gets the right food (key--we don't want the kosher patient eating pork, etc!).  A busy job!

{NOTE:  I know the above descriptions do not NEARLY capture the full extent of the responsibilities in each position!  I just tried to hit the highlights!!}

Next Time on Medical System Tuesdays (new feature on the blog):

• Tip #7:  Know Your Doctors: A Short Guide to Hierarchy! ~ More Insider Tips on How to Get the BEST Medical Care in the Hospital ~

Coming Up THIS Week!

• SuperImmunity Foods for KIDS (Calling All PARENTS!)
• RECIPES & Ideas: Snacks!  YUMMY & Portable Plant-Based Snack Food--all sugar-free, gluten-free & without adding oil or fat!!

The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.  Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. The Happy Rehab Doc expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site.  By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions.