| My physical therapy internship Acclimatizing at my life's first peak By Dennis Alfred M. Pascual |
| During my elementary and high school, I wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, though I definitely was not the dullest. I had my share of awards and recognitions, and participated in quiz bees and intellectual jousts. It just so happened that I was beginning to face life or the "real world"as some of us may call it. I must admit that I was overwhelmed, which caused me to learn things the hard way. My mind was closed to a lot of things -- things that I should have opened up to, but somehow lacked the courage to do so. My parents, particularly my mom, beseeched me to finish high school. At that point, only they believed in me and showed me that I can be more than I thought I could. Even then, I still had a hard time seeing it. I was mad at the world for not understanding me. As it turned out, I was mad because I didn't understand me. Still, I graduated. College. Oh, wow. What can I say about it? It was the turning point of my life as everything started to get clearer and better for me. I became the class president during my first semester and vice president in the next. It was also in college that I met Lerma, the woman who would become my wife. Starting college is one thing, but going through the whole five years and finishing college is something else. I consider it a feat. The first four years was mainly -- and literally -- academic. It became spicier during my internship. December, 2004 marked the first month of my internship. It was at the Fatima Eye and Rehab Clinic (FERC) in Fairview. Imagine the anxiety and the pressure of being branded as one of "the juniors," "the newbies," or "the rookies," while trying to blend in and prove yourself to the more experienced "senior" interns, and the clinical supervisors. An advantage I had was that the place was a "safe zone" or a "home base" for Fairview Campus interns. Basically, the seniors and the supervisors were very helpful, but I had to learn things on my own or apply whatever knowledge I knew. Shah Michael Rosario, PTRP, proved to be an outstanding mentor. I was also happy because the clinic is only about one-eighth of a mile from my house. I can just walk and get there in 10 minutes or ride a jeepney (a roofed stretched-out jeep for 15-20 passengers, and the Filipinos' favorite mass transportation) and get there in two minutes. In FERC, I learned to operate the ultrasound machine (one that's different from that used for other purposes, like for pregnant women), the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (the TENS, used mainly for pain relief), the ergometer (for the arms and legs), the Hydrocollator unit (which holds our hot moist packs), and the paraffin unit (for paraffin wax heating applications), and other physical therapy modalities. There were also finger ladders, weight machines, treadmills, parallel bars, cervical and lumbar traction unit, step ladders, and shoulder wheels (particularly used alongside with finger ladders, to help increase shoulder mobility). Here I gathered basically everything I needed to get started with my training. After two months, we left the comfort of our "home base" and got assigned to Fatima Medical Center (which is actually the "home base" of the Valenzuela Campus interns). For me, it wasn't the most exciting place to be, but it did teach me patience and temper control. It was in fact the most rewarding part of my internship at that clinic. By the way, waking up at 5 a.m. and traveling for 16 miles from Fairview, Quezon City to Valenzuela City may sound easy but in my case it wasn't. Because of the traffic in Metro Manila, that distance (approximately 25 kilometers) took me one to two hours one way by bus, jeep, or FX (another form of public transportation). I had to do that twice a day, six days a week. I didn't get home until about 9 p.m. To top it off, my wife and I took turns in cooking dinner and doing the dishes when we got home at night. Then, I had to study my patients' cases. I was lucky if I got 4-5 hours of sleep. In April 2005, I was assigned to the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC). I was assigned to patients with neurological disorders like spinal cord injury (SCI), cerebrovascular accidents or diseases (strokes), and those who underwent hip arthroplasty or replacement surgery. I was elected president of a group of only nine interns from different schools. Our patient load was roughly 10 per day per intern. We were actually the ones in-charge of in-patients who needed physical therapy. My direct supervisor was Joseph Laxamana, PTRP. He taught me how to improve in my field (plus we shared common interests in movies like the "Lord of the Rings" and "Star Wars"). Together with our supervisors, the interns would go to different wards, and attend to three to five patients in each ward (five wards), 7 a.m.-4 pm. East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) is one of the biggest government-run hospitals in the Philippines. I consider myself lucky to have been assigned there in May 2005. My hours were 6 a.m.-7 p.m. I also became the president (or batch spokesperson) of this batch of 19 interns. The exciting part of my experience there was when I first experienced treating more than two patients at a time. Our patient loads at EAMC were more than the interns could handle at one time. These days, however, the patient loads are lighter (due to strict scheduling) and because of lack of interns (Yes, physical therapy interns in the Philippines are becoming a rare commodity due to the focus on nursing graduates). The saddest part of my internship happened there at EAMC, though. I experienced the loss of an elderly stroke patient who had an artificial respirator and was in a coma. She reminded me of my grandmother. She was still alive on Friday and when I came back the next Monday, I was told that she died over the weekend. My group supervisor, Elizabeth Doco, PTRP, or "Ma'am Betsy," as we fondly called her, helped me know the very fine lines in therapist-patient relations. "We are here to help them in every way that we can according to our practice, and it is hard to not have a personal connection with our patients. But never be emotionally attached to them," she said. She also taught me things that would make me more competent, clinically, and as a person. My stint at The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center on July 2005 was the most exciting part of my internship. Of all the groups of interns that I was privileged to be with, this group at AFP was nothing short of amazing. The chemistry of the entire group was unbelievable. We were like one family, and supported one another (at least, at the professional level). This basically balanced things out for me. I had a "hell" center, and this was my "heaven" (All of us interns had either a good or bad experience in at least one internship center). Of course it wasn't all fun and games at the AFP Medical Center. Some interns had to treat up to 10 patients everyday, sometimes at the same time. Of all my rotations, the AFPMC is the only one with a "hydrotherapy treatment room," and an ?"ltrasound session room." The Center's gym is great, as it became our venue for our Friday night parties (this is supposed to be a secret). My direct supervisor was Anthony Cayabyab, PTRP, whom we call "Sir Anthony." He was very meticulous when it comes to documentation, but was a great pal outside official hours. My 9th month was in Seamen's Hospital in Intramuros, Manila. This was the farthest one that I was assigned to. The rehab department boasts state-of-the-art equipment. The person who helped me grow more here was Ferdinand Javier, PTRP. "Sir Ferds" is a God-fearing man and very religious. He was also very detailed with my documentations and overall performance. Nothing escaped this guy. After 10 long months that seemed like an eternity, filled with long hours of learning, hardships, joy (making friends, of course) and pain, I was finally allowed to march on November 14, 2005 and be called on stage as one of the graduates. Our internship coordinator, Geraldine San Jose, PTRP, RPT, helped me reach this part of my journey. I am far from my destination, yet I have accomplished something that I am proud of. I cannot and will never claim that I made it on my own. There are people who had been with me since the beginning (in one way or another); some I have met along the way, some are still with me now, and some have gone on their own path but still never out of reach. I fell on my knees too many times to recall my travels, and I doubt any of these are my last. I am just thankful to those who are there when I fall, reminding me that I can always pick myself up. Though these lessons and experiences in my life are all frozen images in time, they ironically will burn eternally forever in my heart, soul and mind. It made me who I am. I will never forget. Never, ever forget. |
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| The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, so people say. This, I believe, is true for me. I have decided to take the road that would bring me to my destination if I am focused enough. It is also said that it is better to be late than never. Although I came to a point where I said "it's now or never," when completing school is the issue. I graduated with a degree in physical therapy from Our Lady of Fatima University -- Fairview Campus in the Philippines, a deed that surprised a lot of people -- including myself -- who thought that I would never make it to the first peak of this mountain range that I call life. |
| The 2005 Physical Therapy interns at East Avenue Medical Center. Author is in front, left. |