Clerkship in Internal Medicine
The Medicine Clerkship is a 9-week inpatient and ambulatory rotation found in the Exploration phase of the medical curriculum. The Medicine clerkship builds on the foundational knowledge acquired in the Discovery phase to teach a holistic approach to the care of adult patients, with a focus on common clinical pathology, preventive care and the impact of social determinants of health. The rotation is comprised of a 4-week rotation at our University campus, a 3-week rotation at one of our community campuses and a 2-week rotation in the outpatient setting. In each of these, students learn to hone skills in history taking, physical examination, and the formulation of differential diagnoses and management plans. In the inpatient setting, students work under the supervision of interns, residents and attending physicians to care for multiple patients through the course of their hospital stay, collaborating with other specialties and allied health professionals. During the two-week ambulatory rotation, students work with a primary care physician to learn principles of outpatient Medicine and preventive care through performing annual physical examinations, follow-up visits and urgent care.
Students meet in small groups regularly during the rotation with a Longitudinal Preceptor in Medicine (LPM). Each LPM session includes a review of a core Internal Medicine topic, ECG review and case discussion. Longitudinal preceptors provide teaching, formative feedback, and mentorship through the course of the rotation.
The Medicine offers 2 curriculum days: Acute Care day, which focuses on acute conditions such as myocardial infarction and sepsis, and offers training in phlebotomy, arterial puncture and other procedures; and Primary Care/Palliative Care day, where topics of advocacy, geriatric care are discussed and students participate in an serious illness conversation simulation.
Clerkship Goals:
- Obtain and interpret key historical features pertinent to the patient’s presentation
- Perform and interpret key physical exam findings
- Develop a reasonable differential diagnosis for common medical complaints
- Order diagnostic and screening tests pertinent to the patient’s care while considering patient preference and cost
- Present cases succinctly and accurately in oral and written form
- Gain exposure to common medical procedures
- Gain exposure to palliative care
JUNE 21 2024 | cjb