I was delighted to have discovered that our article about the choice of wiper fluid and Legionnaire’s disease was picked as one of four Editor’s Selections yesterday on the ResearchBlogging site.

ResearchBlogging.org is a repository of academic blog posts about peer-reviewed research. The topics range from anthropology and astronomy to psychology and social science. Relevant to On The Wards, there are categories for health and clinical research. The site emphasizes “serious posts” and is not intended for “news, politics, family, bagpipes, and so on”. An informal peer-review process occurs through member bloggers who report posts that do not adhere to publication guidelines. So far our past submissions have not been dinged, and I hope that continues to be the case.

The “Memorable Tweets” series is a monthly compilation of notable past tweets from the microblog version of On The Wards. The entries may provide some — albeit small — insight into my world as a clinical physician and scientist.

The comments are invariably true and may reflect real-life experiences. I have nevertheless made every effort to protect patient privacy. Most tweets are sufficiently obfuscated to avoid identification of any particular patient. If you feel a comment resembles your case, it is highly likely a mere coincidence. But if you’re a patient who is absolutely convinced that I was talking about you, and would prefer that I not, then contact me and we can discuss this.

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Here is a flashback to some notable tweets from April of last year. The entries may provide some — albeit small — insight into my world as a clinical physician and scientist. The comments are invariably true and may reflect real-life experiences. I have nevertheless made every effort to protect patient privacy. Most tweets are sufficiently obfuscated to avoid identification of any particular patient.

• @grahamwalker @kevinmd The initial impetus for work-hour regulations stemmed from the Bell Commission. Read the recent IOM recommendations?
  9:55 AM Apr 1st from web in reply to grahamwalker

• @grahamwalker … though the recent IOM recommendations will not affect EM as much as Medicine or Surgery.
  9:58 AM Apr 1st from web

• There was already a nationwide shortage of oxycodone and now we have this (I don’t blame the FDA though) http://tinyurl.com/df7g47
  10:47 AM Apr 1st from web

• The polypill would be a great way to reduce _perceived_ polypharmacy, but it would be a headache for dose/drug titration http://bit.ly/fjdp4
  10:57 AM Apr 1st from web

• Just submitted a manuscript. Now awaiting the inevitable peer-review critiques or rejection.
  11:02 PM Apr 9th from Splitweet

• Intern pearl: call your consults early, especially if procedures are anticipated.
  6:25 PM Apr 20th from web

• Do night owls do better on 30-hour calls? http://bit.ly/P9fG0
  5:04 PM Apr 23rd from Splitweet

• The FUO (fever of unknown origin) can sometimes be frustrating or unsatisfying … until you discover the origin.
  2:03 AM Apr 26th from web

• Hospital now gearing up to prevent the local spread of the swine flu.
  1:20 PM Apr 26th from Splitweet

• Poking fun at Twitter and swine flu http://xkcd.com/574/
  3:54 PM Apr 27th from Splitweet

• Did a few procedures today: drew blood, aspirated synovial fluid, and did a central line. I spared someone an LP though.
  6:38 PM Apr 27th from Splitweet

• @kevinmd Banning free drug samples will harm indigent patients.
  7:36 PM Apr 27th from Splitweet in reply to kevinmd

• @DrOttematic Relax and enjoy. You won’t have much time for that once internship begins.
  7:52 PM Apr 27th from Splitweet in reply to DrOttematic

Unlike last year when my plans to see the new year fireworks were dampened by the blistering cold, this year my family and I were able to view not just one — but several — fireworks displays through the comfort of an excellent hotel room view. The moon was quite full last night, too.

It has been a fun and productive 2009, and I look forward to the many good tidings the new year may bring. On The Wards has had progressively more activity in 2009 than in previous years, and I hope to continue the trend once my current busy streak calms down. Happy New Year!

The “Memorable Tweets” series is a monthly compilation of notable past tweets from the microblog version of On The Wards. The entries may provide some — albeit small — insight into my world as a clinical physician and scientist.

The comments are invariably true and may reflect real-life experiences. I have nevertheless made every effort to protect patient privacy. Most tweets are sufficiently obfuscated to avoid identification of any particular patient. If you feel a comment resembles your case, it is highly likely a mere coincidence. But if you’re a patient who is absolutely convinced that I was talking about you, and would prefer that I not, then contact me and we can discuss this.

• I won’t have a day off for over 2 weeks, but am at least enjoying my time on service.
  12:05 PM Mar 1st from web

• Enjoying my first day off in >2 weeks … or catching up on the pile of work screaming for my attention?
  11:03 AM Mar 7th from TwitterMail

• @grahamwalker Unless NAC makes any difference or any meaningful hepatic recovery occurs, It’s a sloooow death. Not a good method of suicide.
  7:37 AM Mar 9th from web in reply to grahamwalker

• @dagarton @smeets Except for the inability to remove polyps, that’s why CT colonography will eventually become a popular screening modality.
  10:50 AM Mar 11th from web in reply to dagarton

• @serious_skeptic Point well taken. [Practically] nothing is devoid of risk.
  4:27 PM Mar 11th from web in reply to serious_skeptic

• It has been a very busy weekend: I had to unfortunately send a few of my patients to the ICU … one intubated and others on pressors.
  6:32 PM Mar 17th from web

• Tertiary / quaternary care hospitals can have very sick patients.
  6:35 PM Mar 17th from web

• On the brighter side, two of my patients finally got new organs this week!
  6:37 PM Mar 17th from web

• Congratulations to everyone who participated in Match Day 2009!
  6:20 PM Mar 19th from TwitterMail

• I enjoy chatting with my patients. It’s unfortunate that a heavy workload and paperwork burden can often create artificial time constraints.
  3:30 PM Mar 24th from web

• In some places, health care can often feel like saving patients from themselves.
  3:31 PM Mar 24th from web

• Oh, I may be chronically sleep-deprived and look grumpy in the morning, but I LOVE my job!
  3:32 PM Mar 24th from web

• @Berci Interesting article. This is yet another reason I need to invest in an XBox 360 or PS3.
  1:58 PM Mar 31st from web in reply to Berci