9 things seeing 5000 patients taught me.

I crossed the 5000 patient mark (who's counting, anyway?). Here's what the job looks like from the inside.

1. Best way to get a medical history for a married man? Ask his partner.

2. It's half a service job. I have to have a smile on my face. Day in. Day out.

3. Being a doctor doesn't mean I know everything. When I don't know, I find out.

4. Patients (like most people) don't listen to understand - they listen to speak. I let them say their piece first. And keep my piece as short as possible.

5. To the system, more patients = more money. The motivation to provide quality care needs to come from inside.

6. Clinic staff are my team. I respect them. (And thank them for everything they do.)

7. Fixing patients' problems is the most gratifying feeling in the world.

8. The hardest part of kids' exams is dealing with parents.

9. I got good at reading confused faces. Patients (like most people) don't ask when they don't understand.

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See you all next week.

- Jin