For July topics we’ll look at summer safety and wellness. We often call winter the cold and flu season, so we could call summer the poison ivy, sunburn, and blister season. Unfortunately, it’s also the season for drownings and water sport accidents.
Where I live, we just saw the first day of summer come and go. It was the longest day of the year and so far one of our hottest. Summer activities are in full swing. Many of the patients I see now are either just coming back from a vacation or getting ready to leave. I envy them because I am staying home since my husband is recovering from a broken ankle that dashed our plans for a summer trip.
For July topics we’ll look at summer safety and wellness. We often call winter the cold and flu season, so we could call summer the poison ivy, sunburn, and blister season. Unfortunately, it’s also the season for drownings and water sport accidents.
Here in the United States we have our most important holiday of the year-Independence Day, or commonly called the 4th of July. On this day in 1776, the North American colonies of England declared political independence, and the rest, as they say, is history. Much has happened in the 243 years since, and the United Kingdom is now an ally; an American citizen, Meghan Markle, recently married into the British royal family. Friendship is worth pursuing between people and countries.
Lady Liberty lifting her torch in New York harbor
Here are links to July’s Timely Topics, or just search for what interests you
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Get active
Summer is the perfect time to start or increase physical activity. I’ve been using a fitness app on my phone, Aaptiv. Consider trying it. I’d appreciate you using this affiliate link through which you can help fund this blog. Thanks and enjoy.
The purpose of board certification is to make sure you, the patient, are getting the best care possible from a physician.
Parents and educators in my state have been debating the merits of standardized testing for school children and maybe where you live also. And it’s not just a question for children, adults can be subjected to professional testing also.
After I finished my family medicine residency, I took an 8 hour paper multiple choice written exam to become certified by the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM). The tests were held at several large cities across the United States.
Every 10 years I tested to re-certify. (Originally it was every 7 years) and I always had to travel at least 500 miles to one nearest my home. Eventually the Board transitioned to a computer based exam taken at a local testing center, still 8 hours long.
The purpose of board certification is to make sure you, the patient, are getting the best care possible from a physician. According to the ABFM,
We promise that board certification means that the family physician you choose for your care meets high standards.
American Board of Family Medicine, ABFM
I passed the recertification exam in 2019 for 10 more years!
In 2018 they offered something new- doctors could take the test on their own computer or tablet whenever and wherever they chose, called The Family Medicine Certification Longitudinal Assessment (FMCLA)
Launched in December 2018 as a pilot program, FMCLA quickly earned an overwhelmingly positive reputation as the preferred option for most physicians and was approved for permanent use in April of 2021.
Doctors can answer questions on a computer or tablet any time of day or night.
This exam consists of 25 questions posted quarterly over 3 years, with a 5 minute time limit for each question . Besides being able to take the exam in my pajamas, I can research the answers online if I need to-as long as I can do it in 5 minutes. The rules prohibit me from discussing the questions with another person, based on an honor system that I attest to before beginning each session. Being able to look up information is more like actual medical practice.
More aligned with adult learning principles, this approach allows for use of references and promotes greater retention of new knowledge to be applied in daily practice.
ABFM web site
You can learn more about the value of board certification at this link
While board certification is a voluntary process, many organizations prefer or require the physicians they hire or work with to be board certified.
Take an “exam” designed for patients
I thought I would give you a taste of what I am doing by creating a patient certification exam for you. The rules prohibit me from sharing actual test questions so I have written my own, in simple medical terms, but using a format similar to the questions I answer.
When I answer questions, I get immediate feedback if my answer was right or wrong, with an explanation and a reference. So I have done the same for you. In this case, the reference is from a blog post I have written.
There’s no time limit for each question and for this exam, feel free to discuss your answers with someone else, I encourage you to. Choose the single best answer. Check at the end for the correct answers.
I had fun writing these questions so I hope you have fun answering them. Good luck! I hope you pass.
Question 1
A woman came to her doctor with a skin rash soon after starting to take a new medication. The medication is most likely
An Antidepressant
A blood pressure lowering drug
An anti-inflammatory drug
An antibiotic
Question 2
A 25 year old woman notices that the skin on her face has darkened over the past several months. This condition is called
Line drawing showing cross-section of dermal and epidermal skin layers.
National Cancer Institute
Creator: Unknown Illustrator
This image is in the public domain and can be freely reused. Please credit the source and, where possible, the creator listed above.
Question 3
A mother brings her 8 year old daughter to her family doctor. The child has a cough, runny nose, and mild sore throat. Her temperature is 100.2 degrees. The doctor diagnosed the illness as a cold, or upper respiratory infection and explains this is caused by a virus. She does not prescribe an antibiotic because
The child is allergic to penicillin
The family does not have health insurance
The mother has left over antibiotic from another child at home.
An antibiotic will not help an infection caused by a virus.
Kristin’s jacket from high school on display at the Performing Arts Center
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
The most common drug that causes a skin rash is an antibiotic.
Melasma
Antibiotics do not help a cold or any other viral infection
delivered a baby; hair loss is common after pregnancy
Stop smoking drugs can be useful to help smokers quit. The other drugs listed are often overused.
Exercise and relaxation can improve one’s sleep.
Nick was born without limbs.
Infertility is a common symptom of endometriosis.
Cancer of the cervix is caused by the HPV virus.
Broken Arrow. The other Oklahoma towns produced Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, and Reba McIntyre.
testing the HEART of health
Thanks for testing your knowledge with this first ever Watercress Words Certification Exam. If you liked it, let me know, maybe we’ll do it again.
I appreciate all of you who are following Watercress Words, and if you aren’t I invite you to join the wonderful people who are. You can meet some of them in the sidebar, where you can click on their image and visit their blogs. Use the form to get an email notification of new posts. Don’t worry, you won’t get anything else from me.
watercress words by Dr Aletha 
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