SOL: Stanzas of Life

Spending two months in an urgent care setting during my family medicine rotation was both rewarding and humbling in ways I didn’t fully expect.

One of the most striking things I encountered wasn’t just the variety of medical conditions, but the reality of how patients access care. Many of the people we saw were underinsured or uninsured. They came to urgent care not because it was the most appropriate setting for every condition, but because it felt like the only financially realistic option. For some, it was a way to avoid the high costs of an emergency department visit.

It made it very clear to me: people who need care will find a way to seek it, even when the system makes it difficult. But they shouldn’t have to navigate that struggle alone. Our healthcare system still has a long way to go in recognizing and supporting patients who are doing their best with limited resources.

Clinically, the experience was just as impactful. Family medicine in an urgent care setting meant constantly shifting gears. In one day, I might help reduce a shoulder dislocation, repair a laceration, and treat multiple urinary tract infections. There were moments of excitement, like assisting with procedures, and moments that required sensitivity and care, like telling a patient she was pregnant or discussing a new diagnosis of COPD with a family.

Some encounters stayed with me more than others. Recognizing peritoneal signs in a patient who likely had appendicitis and directing them to the emergency department reinforced how critical timely judgment can be. Even in a setting designed for lower acuity care, serious pathology doesn’t announce itself loudly. You have to stay alert and trust your training.

Beyond the clinical work, the relationships I built also shaped the experience. I had the chance to work alongside my girlfriend for a few weeks after she returned from a month practicing family medicine in Kenya. Sharing that time together added another layer of meaning, as we both reflected on how different healthcare systems approach access, resource limitations, and patient care.

Family medicine sits at the intersection of accessibility, continuity, and adaptability. In urgent care, that role becomes even more immediate. You meet patients where they are, often at moments of uncertainty, and try to provide clarity, relief, and direction.

These two months reminded me that medicine is not just about diagnosing and treating. It’s about understanding the context people live in and doing what you can, within that reality, to help.

#Family Medicine #medschoolrotation #SOL:StanzasofLife