Icm

[rizzol19]

I was speaking to a fellow first semester about ICM and we came to the conclusion that we have no idea what it is about. When do we meet for that class and how many times a week? Is it pass/fail, strictly clinical applications? Any info would be great. Thanks in advance.

[Itempest]

Essentially, ICM stands for "Introduction to clinical medicine" and you'll learn basic interviewing and physical exam skills in small groups of about 10-15 students with a faculty instructor.

You will have it from your second semester onwards. They tend to meet 4 times a week during a 4-6 week period of the semester. So it may be during the first half, or the second half of the semester or right in the middle. Usually you meet in either the early session (1-3 PM) or later session 3-5 PM).

The first two ICM classes (second and third semester) are P/F, after that, you get graded on anything from quizzes to interview skills to physical exam skills to participation.

[dreileen]

Got the email about ordering ICM equipment today (needs to be turned in by Nov 20th if you want to order through AUC) and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or comments on what they bought, what they wish they had or had not bought and so forth. I ended up sinking a small chunk into a dissection kit that I never used or needed and $800 for ICM equipment is a pretty significant investment. Thanks.

[Itempest]

You'll definitely want your own stethescope. And it's probably worth getting the one they recommend. I've heard the Cardiology III is one of the better ones. Although I'm hardly the expert on stethescopes.

I haven't been in ICM 5 yet so I don't know if there's anything significantly different, but I would say you could easily get by ICM 2-4 sharing most of the other general equipment like reflex hammers, tuning forks, ophthalmoscopes, etc. The Blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer) was almost certainly a waste.

[tegraphile]

For those of us starting ICM 2, is there any significance in purchasing the top stuff or just getting something average that will get you by?

The difference is $250 for the average stuff and $750 for the school-recommended equipment.

[Itempest]

I'd recommend getting the school-recommended Stethescope. Even if you don't get it from the school, you may be able to get it elsewhere for cheaper. The rest of the equipment it probably doesn't matter if you just get some run of the mill stuff. My opinion, anyway.

[slevit1]

For those of us starting ICM 2, is there any significance in purchasing the top stuff or just getting something average that will get you by?

The difference is $250 for the average stuff and $750 for the school-recommended equipment.

Get a good stethoscope.

Other than that, get what's cheap, if you decide to get it at all. You hardly use any of it and when you do, you can share. I bought some of the expensive stuff, and wish I didn't. Other than saving money (which is the likely reason), there's absolutely no reason for AUC to make students spend money on an otoscope/ophthalmoscope.

Be prepared to feel like you're wasting a lot of your life away, when you could be studying. And, if you think it's bad at the beginning (which it is), just wait until they throw behavioral in there!!

[tegraphile]

Get a good stethoscope.

Other than that, get what's cheap, if you decide to get it at all. You hardly use any of it and when you do, you can share. I bought some of the expensive stuff, and wish I didn't. Other than saving money (which is the likely reason), there's absolutely no reason for AUC to make students spend money on an otoscope/ophthalmoscope.

Be prepared to feel like you're wasting a lot of your life away, when you could be studying. And, if you think it's bad at the beginning (which it is), just wait until they throw behavioral in there!!

LOL... thanks for the info and the heads up. :p

[Slaol_121]

For those of us starting ICM 2, is there any significance in purchasing the top stuff or just getting something average that will get you by?

The difference is $250 for the average stuff and $750 for the school-recommended equipment.

I bought a decent Littman stethoscope from Allheart.
Uniforms - Nursing Scrubs, Nursing Uniforms & Medical Scrubs - Allheart (http://<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-1293101-5329523">www.allheart.com</a>)
(click on stethoscopes on the side menu)

I also bought the rest of the supplies for cheap off of either Allheart or Amazon. My opthalmoscope was only $99 and came with a lot of extras that the school one did not have. My ICM professor and the course director both said it was an excellent kit.
Amazon.com: Professional OPHTHALMOSCOPE - OTOSCOPE Diagnostic Set with a new sturdy snap-shut carrying case.: Health & Personal Care

Overall, I ended up spending a little over $200 - much better than ordering through the school.

ADD: I would like to second Slevit's sentiment that ICM makes you feel like you are throwing your life away. I just finished my last Advanced interview for ICM and did the write up this afternoon. Basically, this means that I did ICM from 12:15-5:45pm. Now I am starting to study for the day...