admin

Posts by this author:

Spring Fling

Hello Springtime!  Welcome back longer days and warmer weather.  There is a certain sense of optimism I feel this time of year.  Maybe it’s the birds chirping or the flowers blooming.  I don’t know.  I can’t explain but after a year of pandemic we can definitely use some positivity.

So, true story here.  I just learned how to use hair ties!  I’ve never had long hair in my life so this is a first.  I think this is a dangerous precedent however.  Because when I tie my hair back, I sorta forget about it.  At this rate, I may never get a haircut again as long as I live!  Especially since it always looks the same when it’s tied up.

The Switzerland of Suits

It’s been said that the grey suit is the Switzerland of men’s formal attire.  I don’t know what that means, but I have a theory.  In World War 2, Switzerland remained neutral.  The country was neither part of the allies nor one of the axis powers.  In this way, Switzerland avoided taking sides despite being located in the middle of wartime Europe.  The grey suit is also neutral.  It is equally at home at a dinner party as it is at work.  Some consider it too light for interviews but I disagree.  I think that especially if you go for a darker shade of grey, you’re still in the safe zone to leave a good impression at a job interview.

As As is the case with all two-button suits, I keep the bottom one unbuttoned.  Sure, the grey suit has some light-hearted charm.  But it’s not enough to overcome a stuffy straight-jacket look of a suit with both buttons fastened.

Viva Las Vegas

Cheers!  I don’t make it out to Las Vegas very often.  But whenever I do, I’m sure to have a good time.  This trip was actually really last minute.  I was on a family ski vacation in Utah when I realized that the car ride home would pass right through Las Vegas.  As a joke, I said to my brother that I was planning to abandon ship in Sin City. But the more I thought about it, the less of a joke it became.  I realized I could hop out in Vegas and then easily catch a plane flight back to LA.  Shortly after coming to this realization, I booked my flight and my weekend plans were set in motion!

Well, not all my plans were set.  I showed up in Vegas with no hotel.  This is typical of the way I plan vacations.  Everything is last minute.  Thankfully the Las Vegas Strip has no shortage of hotels ready for booking so I scored a room at The Wynn casino without too much difficulty. 

When I arrived in Vegas, I was basically wearing snowboard gear.  I picked up this cheap suit for about $100 to avoid spending the weekend looking like an abominable snowman.

“That’ll be $80 for the lunch buffet.”  Okay, when I’m by myself somehow an $80 lunch seems less appealing.  I asked the server if I could pretend like I’m going to order something long enough to snap a pic.  Thankfully, she was cool with it and didn’t kick me out.  P.S. What dance club used be housed in this location?  I loved it back in the early 2000s.

Here’s some next level tourist action.  I had to wait in line for about 30 minutes to get a shot at the sign.  Was it worth it?  Maybe.

The Pen is Mightier Than the Stethoscope

This post is sponsored by Zebra Pens. All thoughts and opinions are my own, not those of my employer, past or present, or any other organization with which I may be affiliated.

What’s one thing I never leave for work without? A pen! I’m excited to begin my day with two of my favorite ballpoint pens by Zebra Pen. Whether I’m taking notes from patient interviews or writing prescriptions, I know I’ll be doing it in style with my STEEL F-701® and STEEL F-301® Ballpoint Retractable Pens.

Adorned with a crisp white coat and some fresh new ballpoint pens, I’m ready to start my day. Learn how you can Choose Different and have a pen that is beyond a pen but a statement.  The first thing I do when I arrive at work is review all the data for the patients I will be caring for that day. This data includes vital signs, nursing reports, blood test reports, imaging studies, and any other relevant information for the patients I will be evaluating.

When I care for patients who do not have access to health insurance, I must write prescriptions by hand. This way, the prescription will be good at any local pharmacy—even if the patient is not enrolled within an electronic medical record system.

Essential tools of the trade: Business cards, stethoscope, prescription pad, ID badge, pager, and of course— ballpoint pens by Zebra Pen!

Once I’ve reviewed all the necessary data, I grab all my equipment and head off to rounds. During this time, I go room to room and visit all of my patients in the hospital. Each visit entails conducting a thorough interview where I asked detailed questions about symptoms. After this, I perform a physical examination where I listen carefully to the heart and lungs, examine the abdomen, and sometimes perform more specialized examination maneuvers if needed. Then, I update patients and their families about the plan of care.

After rounds, its back to the office where I work behind-the-scenes to make sure all my patients get the care they need. During this time, I put in orders for nurses to carry out, I write prescriptions for medications, and if needed, I will get on the phone with specialists like nutritionists, physical therapists, and surgeons to help coordinate care among the different disciplines. All in all, these tasks make for a busy afternoon. Having my trusty STEEL F-701® Pen by Zebra Pen helps me get the job done efficiently. Check them out yourself on Zebra Pen’s website and use the code “MikeMuellner25” for 25% off!

I’ve been practicing medicine as an internal medicine doctor for six years. The job is certainly not without its challenges. There are hectic schedules and no shortage of late nights on the job. But one thing’s for sure, I will always consider it a privilege to be present with patients and their families as they deal with serious illness. I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing.

Saint Laurent in Los Angeles

I’ll be the first to admit that Los Angeles is not exactly known for formal suit style.  Here in L.A. as long as you’re not in shorts and flip flops, you’re considered dressed up.  Nevertheless, I enjoy throwing on a suit from time to time.  This one by Saint Laurent is my favorite.

The classic notch lapel two-button design is conservative enough to feel right at home in a job interview or conference room.  Still, the sharp cuts of the shoulders and overall slim fit give it an edgier feel that fits right in at even the trendiest Hollywood venues.