Fanny packs

Fanny packs are pretty ridiculous things in the US. The last time I had a fanny pack was as a prop for a pretty awesome (if I do say so myself) costume party… and yes I had neon green sunglasses on too. Fanny packs are not a laughing matter here in the DR; they are part of the uniform for residents. Each resident wears a fanny pack- the bigger the better. Each person buys their own and jams it with as many medical supplies as they can. Attendings will often demand an inspection of a resident’s fanny pack to ensure that they are fully prepared for their day of work.

As ridiculous as it is to picture everyone wearing fanny packs all day long, they are a necessity here. The hospital does not have much medical supplies that are shared so everything else has to be the personal property of the physician who wants to use it. For example, if you want to know your patient’s blood pressure you better have your own sphingomanomoter. If you want to staple a lab value to the patient’s chart, you better have a stapler or a glue stick. If you want to use lubricant during a vaginal exam, you better have it in your fanny pack. These residents had everything in their fanny pack! At times, I had a hard time fitting in here because of my lack of a fanny pack. What do you mean you don’t have a stapler with you?! How can you not have a glue stick on you?!