Post by drdrizzle on Mar 24, 2007 12:25:14 GMT -5
The schedule is basically the same as the third year clerkship. but there is an extra Sub-I intern report once a week, were each one of us takes turn presenting a case. I liked it b/c it was exactly at our level of understanding and that made it fun. Also you have to do an evidence-based write up that a page long. But you dont have an H&Ps or any of ther other stuff they make the third years do. so its not that bad. And there is no test for us, so you actually get down time with not much to do. It will be a little hard to take time off for interviews b/c then the senior resident is now directly responsible for your patient. Also this is probably one of the few fourth year rotations where you get a chance to teach the third years what you have learned.
For those that will do a prelim year: I think this is a good rotation. You get good experience that will help you when you are an intern. the hours are really not that bad. Its just the call and going on weekends. But it is way less work than when you were a third year, esp if you do it at the VA. And if you want to relax and get easy cases, just ask, the resident will be more than happy to do that (see below).
If you want to go to medicine, take it early. july or august. Sept is pushing it if you want a recommendation. Try to take it at MCG if you can, esp if you want a recommendation (see other reasons on my IM posts). Also you want to be sure your sub-I evals get on your dean's letter. i think sept is the last month they take into consideration. Dont worry, Dr szerlip (disappointingly) told me everybody who takes it wanting to medicine makes an A. So the important thing is to get good comments on your eval. Your interviewers will look for them if nothing else. They want an idea of what kind of resident you are going to be.
For IM kids: The residents will give you easy cases (depending on your resident feelings on sub-Is. Some flat out dont like them). B/c if you need help, the next person up is going to be them and they are supposed to write notes on your patients when they wouldn't have to if he/she gave the case to an intern. I dont blame them. I will likely do the same thing. On the other hand if the case is interesting, he/she may want to be closer to the action. so it all depends. However, even if you get easy cases, you still get many chances to impress the attendings. Esp by reading about your patients problems and doing it evidence based now that you have more time and more experience. Even things like INR level checks there is a lot to read up on management. So for every problem your patient has try to master that concept. And of course, take the lead in teaching the third years.
dd
For those that will do a prelim year: I think this is a good rotation. You get good experience that will help you when you are an intern. the hours are really not that bad. Its just the call and going on weekends. But it is way less work than when you were a third year, esp if you do it at the VA. And if you want to relax and get easy cases, just ask, the resident will be more than happy to do that (see below).
If you want to go to medicine, take it early. july or august. Sept is pushing it if you want a recommendation. Try to take it at MCG if you can, esp if you want a recommendation (see other reasons on my IM posts). Also you want to be sure your sub-I evals get on your dean's letter. i think sept is the last month they take into consideration. Dont worry, Dr szerlip (disappointingly) told me everybody who takes it wanting to medicine makes an A. So the important thing is to get good comments on your eval. Your interviewers will look for them if nothing else. They want an idea of what kind of resident you are going to be.
For IM kids: The residents will give you easy cases (depending on your resident feelings on sub-Is. Some flat out dont like them). B/c if you need help, the next person up is going to be them and they are supposed to write notes on your patients when they wouldn't have to if he/she gave the case to an intern. I dont blame them. I will likely do the same thing. On the other hand if the case is interesting, he/she may want to be closer to the action. so it all depends. However, even if you get easy cases, you still get many chances to impress the attendings. Esp by reading about your patients problems and doing it evidence based now that you have more time and more experience. Even things like INR level checks there is a lot to read up on management. So for every problem your patient has try to master that concept. And of course, take the lead in teaching the third years.
dd