Kathy's friends and medical work in NZ

This won't surprise many of you but Kathy's efforts to be friendly has reached new heights!
1  On the wine tour she discovered the life history of all 16 , many who were from different countries.
2 She has told you about meeting Mary on the ferry and getting invited to her cottage.
3 When we were at breakfast at the backpackers lodge, I was reminded how much more of an extrovert Kathy is when at breakfast no one was talking to each other till Kathy came in and immediately engaged other people from Holland in conversation. Many people were from Europe and Australia and I think really appreciated her friendliness, but yet were like me and wouldn't start a conversation with people from other countries whom they didn't know. Kathy has trouble understanding foreigners so has to ask them to repeat themselves, but this doesn't deter  her, like it would me. It's nice to have such a travel companion to ask all the questions!.
    
        I have worked 4 days in NZ and it is getting much easier. The most difficult part is learning their drugs and what is covered at a cost of only $3 and what isn't. It just takes extra time to look up the most similar med that I would use. So far they don't seem to use as much narcotics.  I can only write a narcotic prescription for 10 days at a time and they use the less potent codeine  more often rather than the more potent oxycodone or hydrocodone.
      Most surprising is that our patients have to drive 1 hr to get an x-ray so we don't get many. This does decrease utilization,but makes it more difficult to be sure your diagnosis and treatment are correct. They have a good ambulance service and the govt. pays for it without questions so it is used frequently. If you carry private insurance , you can get services and specialty care as quick as in US, but often will 2 to 5 mo. if you don't ---although it varies alot and is hard to generalize.
      All accidents and even medical mistakes ,called misadventures, are covered by the govt. This decreases litigation costs immensely and seems to be well accepted.  Most patients pay about $26 for an office visit, except children under 6 get free care. The patients are very friendly and don't pressure me for alot of meds or tests.  They need to get their chronic meds refilled and be seen every 3 mo, even when they are doing well.Lab tests are easy to get. The doctor gets the patient from the waiting room and takes the BP, unlike at home.  I like walking out to the waiting room, because sitting very long increases my low back pain.I have been lucky in that this is a quiet rural practice and is NOT very computerized.  They don't dictate notes, so I have to write them. I haven't had to see as many patients as in my practice so the pace is slower.
       I get to hear all their strange expressions and slang.  Hot burn is heartburn.  R's aren't emphasized.  Eentensive care for intensive.  The short e is an ay or long ee.  A lady stated being sick on holiday is real sucky!  The possum was throttled when he was caught by the neck in a trap.  When the patient said she figured out her problem , she registered it.  Men say lovely and spouses call each other love.
       I see alot of dairy farmers who seem to be very successful in exporting much to India and China---only 15% stays at home.  Fruit, timber and beef and dairy are their main exports which are rural products so they have a shortage of GP's in the rural areas. Since the country needs these products and there are alot of country people, the govt. supports rural GP's with this locums tenans program of which hired me.
  I enjoy the long evenings and green rolling countryside and huge trees the most am looking forward to some great hikes even around this less mountainous area.
    If your still with me,  thanks for reading it all!!
Will