Comments on: On learning medicine – the value of volume http://www.medrants.com/archives/3623 Internal medicine, American health care, and especially medical education Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:15:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: rtb http://www.medrants.com/archives/3623/comment-page-1#comment-520895 rtb Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:48:41 +0000 http://www.medrants.com/?p=3623#comment-520895 In an earlier century, I left New York for a residency without work hour limitations in order to become the best clinician possible. I admitted and managed far more patients than my residents do today (personal record: admitting 23 kids to the Oncology unit in one night). The experience taught me many practical lessons about medicine, interpersonal communication and healthcare systems. However my clinical skills were often based on instinct and tradition instead of grounded knowledge or evidence. After residency, I sat down to systematically study for the Boards and also took some time to reflect upon my training experiences. The process noticably improved my diagnostic and theraputic acumen. It also gave me a wealth of self-knowledge. I would support Bob's view that the more patients we see, the more opportunities we have to learn. But I also encourage students to also take time to reflect on their clinical experiences and to think about their patients' conditions in a systematic manner. Since every patient is unique, the patients they see on the wards today will only partially resemble the patients they see tomorrow. Taking time to place their patients in context will help them recognize when the next patient has a different diagnosis or requires different care. In an earlier century, I left New York for a residency without work hour limitations in order to become the best clinician possible. I admitted and managed far more patients than my residents do today (personal record: admitting 23 kids to the Oncology unit in one night). The experience taught me many practical lessons about medicine, interpersonal communication and healthcare systems. However my clinical skills were often based on instinct and tradition instead of grounded knowledge or evidence.

After residency, I sat down to systematically study for the Boards and also took some time to reflect upon my training experiences. The process noticably improved my diagnostic and theraputic acumen. It also gave me a wealth of self-knowledge.

I would support Bob’s view that the more patients we see, the more opportunities we have to learn. But I also encourage students to also take time to reflect on their clinical experiences and to think about their patients’ conditions in a systematic manner. Since every patient is unique, the patients they see on the wards today will only partially resemble the patients they see tomorrow. Taking time to place their patients in context will help them recognize when the next patient has a different diagnosis or requires different care.

]]> By: kevinh76 http://www.medrants.com/archives/3623/comment-page-1#comment-520894 kevinh76 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:27:32 +0000 http://www.medrants.com/?p=3623#comment-520894 When I was a resident, I always hoped for a quiet day (because they were so rare) and a busy month. When I had a busy month, I learned a ton. One can not learn medicine from only the lectures and textbooks. You need to see lots of patients too. Third year medical school was the most fun I had in my entire training. I wish I had kept a diary of all the great patients and cases I saw. When I was a resident, I always hoped for a quiet day (because they were so rare) and a busy month. When I had a busy month, I learned a ton. One can not learn medicine from only the lectures and textbooks. You need to see lots of patients too. Third year medical school was the most fun I had in my entire training. I wish I had kept a diary of all the great patients and cases I saw.

]]> By: The Happy Hospitalist http://www.medrants.com/archives/3623/comment-page-1#comment-520892 The Happy Hospitalist Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:14:09 +0000 http://www.medrants.com/?p=3623#comment-520892 100% true 100% true

]]>