3rd Year Clerkship & All Medical Students Preceptor Sessions
Preceptor sessions and lectures are scheduled; attendance is "MANDATORY".
Technically students are excused if in the OR but only if operating on their own patient, otherwise everyone is expected to attend. Your preceptor will meet with you 3-5 times per week. The format of these sessions is determined by your preceptor.
Some may lecture in part, question, require 1-2 presentations per student, but all will try to cover the material considered important but not covered by the scheduled didactic lectures. Your preceptor writes your final evaluation.
Midpoint Feedback
Your preceptor will meet with you individually during the third week of the clerkship to give you feedback and help you to define areas to work on in each of the competencies (see form). In preparation for this session please reflect on your own performance and define the areas you wish to work on, or ask specifically about.
Observed History and Physical
During the clerkship you will see patients in various doctors' offices where you are expected to evaluate a patient, and present the case to the attending. You are required to be observed while performing at least one focused history and physical examination during the clerkship. Each of these encounters has to be documented on the observed H&P form (see forms). This is an opportunity to get feedback on improving specific techniques as well as organizing the overall flow of a visit and examination.
Supervision & Privileges of Medical Students in the Emergency Room
Third year medical students rotating on the general surgery service will spend six evening hours in the New York Presbyterian Hospital Emergency Room observing and participating in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with acute illnesses of surgical importance.
In order to assure that patients receive optimal treatment, while maintaining the Department of Surgery's commitment to student education, the following guidelines are established.
All medical students involved in the care of patients in the emergency room of New York Presbyterian Hospital are under direct supervision of the Emergency Room Attending in charge of the surgery area. Students should report to the scheduled E.R. Attending at 8:00PM. (District IV, surgical area.) Under the direct supervision of an authorized attending or senior resident, a student may perform the following specified procedures:
- History taking;
- Physical examination;
- Venipuncture;
- Intravenous catheter placement;
- Foley catheter placement;
- Nasogastric tube placement;
- Suturing of simple laceration; (excluding those of the face)
In conformity with the New York Presbyterian Hospital Medical Board Policy and Procedure Manual (1/24/89), in all such patient contacts, the patient shall be informed that the individual performing the procedure is a student.
Further, the supervising physician will document with a signed entry their concurrence with the treatment and follow-up plan entered into the patient's chart prior to the patient's discharge from the Emergency Room.
Student may not be supervised by PGY I residents.
Absences
If for some reason you are unable to attend to your ward or clerkship duties please notify your preceptor and your intern promptly.
If you become ill, resist the temptation to treat yourself and report to Student Health.
If it is considered advisable for you to withdraw from clinical contacts for any period of time, please notify your team, your preceptor and Doris Leddy.
Decorum
To be entrusted with the care of a patient is a privilege granted by the patient.
Acceptance of this privilege carries certain important responsibilities not the least of which is to present yourself professionally and respectfully.
Scrupulous attention to proper dress and demeanor is assumed.
Smoking, gum chewing, eating food or drinking beverages at the Nurse's Stations, slouching on the bed rails, etc., conveys carelessness and lack of respect that interferes with establishing an appropriate relationship with your patient and the staff.
Dress Code
This is from the Dean's office and mandatory. Blue scrub suits are restricted to operating rooms.
They obviously must be worn when the patient is brought to the recovery area, and typically the resident staff wears them all day long except when attending conferences and clinics.
When outside of the OR or Recovery Area it is MANDATORY that the scrub suits be covered by wearing a white coat.
While you may see some residents violating this rule, that is NOT a license for students to do so.
Students are expected to be in appropriate attire for all patient encounters—no T shirts, no sandals; just look professional.
Beyond this, there is a NYS Health Department ruling that prohibits the wearing of surgical scrub suits (at NYPH they are blue) in the street at any time.
If caught, students face draconian punishment of lifelong importance.
If you wear the blue scrub suits outside the hospital you may be removed from your rotation and will be required to repeat the rotation.
This may delay your graduation.
(Green scrub suits may be purchased and worn outside the hospital.)
House Staff Lunches
We wish you to feel welcome and part of the Department during your Surgery rotation; however you are only to take food from the house staff lunch in Reemtsma after the residents have arrived, generally by 12:15 PM.
Informal lectures on Monday cover Breast, Tuesday-Vascular, Wednesday-Transplant, Thursday-Upper GI, and Friday-Lower GI. On the last Friday of each month there is a showing of recently completed operative videos.
Lockers (CPMC medical students only)
We will supply you with lockers, during your surgery rotation. Due to the locker shortage, please double up. They are located on Milstein Hospital 7-109 HS. Please bring your own lock.
There will also be 1-Male and 1-Female OR locker for all of you to share only during the surgery rotation.
The locks and all your belongings must be removed the last day of your rotation.
The OR lockers are separate and are locked as below:
- Male OR locker is located on MH7-3 # 49
- Female OR locker is located on MH-4 # 29
The OR locker combinations will be supplied at your orientation session.
Please see Surgery Clerkship form for OR locker combinations instructions.
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