Today I have been up since 4:30am. I am not a masochistic person by nature, this morning I had to do rounds at the UW hospital with the residents and attendings. Now you are thinking- did she switch to med school and not tell us- the answer is no. For my Industrial Engineering Program Evaluation course I am mapping out the different tasks associated with getting patients out of the hospital (or patient discharge process). I have learned several things about hospitals, visiting with the staff-

1. You can not work at a hospital unless you can multi-task. I am shocked to learn all that the staff has to do and all of the small considerations that need to be taken into account for each patient.

2. The nurses know a large amount of information, so ask them your questions (they tend to have a better manner than some of the doctors or soon-to-be doctors). I may be a bit bitter here since my residents were rather whinny (it was early, but still), but it never hurts to ask for more information.

I have definitely earned a greater respect for the tasks of a hospital and all of the irritating paperwork that has to be done.

After having meetings back-to-back most of the day, I was looking forward to shrimp scampi by Chef Mark. Yesterday we bought some shrimp by the side of the road- that sounds rather scary, but there is a shrimp truck that comes periodically throughout the year and sells Galveston, TX shrimp next to Steve's Liquors on University Ave. The long lines of people always at the truck convinced us to give it a go- and we are glad we did! They were delicious!! We feasted on 2 wonderful pounds of shrimp tonight- clean and fresh tasting! Tomorrow it is salmon and fresh garden asparagus!! This is a seafood-special week!