Quick note: The AP tests are happening in SEVEN DAYS. After years of nightmares involving those words, they are back to haunt my dreams for entirely different reasons. I want to be productive this week to make up for lost time, so I'll do what I can in class and during lunch. But as soon as I get home SRS stops. I doubt either event will end well but I will do all that I can. I'll probably be interviewing for the 3rd question during my 4th question research. Let's hope for the best.

So it's been a while, internet..... This is what's up: Senior trip lasted 4 days. Wednesday I had a half day. Thursday I was sick and didn't come in. Friday I worked on the survey video. I've been in a series of unproductive environments which have caused me to do just about nothing this week. But not all is lost. The time I've had has been very productive and the video should be done very soon. It won't just be a little thing either. Well, it will be, but it will be a very nicely edited little thing. Once that's done I need to start thinking about how I'm going to tie this thing up. I still want an interview for this question but I need to be careful about how I spend my time. Theres still an entire research question I haven't answered and I need some time to actually construct my presentation. I wish I knew when it needed to be done (early june, late june, late may?). I'm not too worried about the last question because worst case scenario, it will be a wrap up question and I can say something about an uncertain future full of possibility blah blah blah.... But I know I'll work faster during this section of the project because I'm really interested in it. It's mostly internet research, but maybe I'll email some doctors about what they think is coming and all that. It's the actual presentation I'm worried about. I don't know how I can make it entertaining. The way I could build it right now would be kind of monotonous and procedural. I need something to make it kick. Maybe I could get someone to come in and speak!!! That is a great idea. Good job, Hayley. I tend to write as I think. If you can get past the clutter it becomes a good way to get ideas down. What else.....I think that's it. Cool. Goodnight internet.

I have the interviews cut up and now I just have to arrange them into something neater. Then I'll make the graphics and I should be done by the end of next week, since I'll be on the trip. This next week should be pretty quiet. Not much to report on. But I like it better this way. I have a clear goal and straight forward material to work with. I haven't had much of that in the course of this project; it's a lot of thinking and planning and waiting. I welcome the change of pace.

I got a lot of good interviews today. I can't even remember how many. I'm going to compile them into a commercial-like opinion poll with some nice background music and graphics. I wonder if copyright applies here. I should run that by Shtino. Tomorrow, second period, i'm going to get one more from Mr. Wigley. I'll be editing it during 9th this week and I should be done by Friday.

I'm trying to decide how useful a survey would be in determining the country's opinion on doctors. Ram said that interviews might be more informative. Now that I think about it, I would only be surveying teenagers anyway. We usually don't have much experience with doctors. I have no idea where I'll find the time to do this, but I guess I'll make a video compilation of interviews with adults and teenagers reacting to these questions:

1) What comes to mind when you hear the word "doctor"?
2) Do you like going to the doctor's office? Why or why not?
3) What have your experiences with doctors been like?
4) What do you think the average doctor is like as a person?

The point of this is to discover the most common doctor stereotypes and the ways in which people will perceive me as an adult. I think that it will benefit me to know these things because I will be more sensitive to my patient's perspective, allowing me to communicate more effectively.

I finally remembered what that video was!
Skip to 8:35!!!

I've organized the topic into these main questions:

1)      What is expected of a doctor regarding patient care?

2)      How does American society view doctors and surgeons?

-          How has this view changed in the last 50 years?

3)      How do doctors view patients?

4)      What needs to be done to satisfy the needs of both parties?

What I have done so far tells me that the bulk of the problem is in the doctor-patient relationship. Communication is failing in both the basic sense and in that each is unaware of the other's expectations for them. Patients are left feeling unheard and doctors are trying harder to be careful than to acurately treat their illnesses. Legislation in recent years has made it harder for residents to work effectively because of the shortened shift hours. They are given less time to do the same amount of work, leading to reduced follow-up care and attention to detail. I can't find much written about american society and our doctors, so I'm going to watch some TED talks and see what I can take from them. After that, and a bit more solid research, I'll make up the survey.

http://www.freelancestar.com/2013-03-25/articles/3989/unrealistic-expectations-can-complicate-doctorpatient-relationship/

The beginning of my research on this question. As soon as I get this settled, I'll be able to find an interview. I may not have done as much as I hoped during the break, but I'm definitely at a good place in the long run. I still have about two months left, but I don't have a huge amount to do after this. I think I finally have all of this worked out. I should have enough by Tuesday to start making calls.

Funny story.... all that stuff I said in the last blog about how I'm going to present the information.... I didn't write it down. So I have no idea what I was talking about. But I won't be making that mistake again! What follows is a small list of ideas that may or may not make sense. Its for my own benefit so I don't lose the notes.

Brain Surgeon iphone game (me playing: possible anecdote for intro)
Quotes from past interviews (the nurse said something about working less hours and lack of training)
Survey and payment fluctuations
People googling their ailments: doctor's pov, not as much trust as before
Something with scrubs or house