My reaction to our clinicals

[NicSTX]

It's been 2 days since receiving my pass on my Step 1 and I can honestly say I'm not happy. I am learning things too late that would have been more convenient if told me to me while I was twiddling my thumbs after my test and before my score. Things could have been told to me in 5th semester when I had to scramble around and get tests done that don't even matter or aren't valid for my clinicals.

For example:
What's OSHA? What's a HIPAA certificate?

Oh, in case you didn't know either, they're forms you need to have before you go to a hospital. Something you're dismissively told to complete from some phantom online course. What online course? You're not told that - you need to figure that out on your own.

Here's my suggestion to AUA. Use our 5th semester for what it's supposed to be used for. Tell us about clinicals, what to expect, what documents and forms we need, how to get them and maybe keep that paper around that tells you where we want to do our clinicals - we put time into those. Maybe you could even help find ways of getting these courses done together instead of telling us to find the courese online.

I don't think it's ok that things like my MMR titers are mandatory when my vaccines use to be sufficient, nor do I think that telling me last second that I need my OSHA or my HIPAA certificates when I'm trying to place myself into what seems like a helpless clinical situation. I could have checked off a little box on my HIV blood test adding that and i would have saved myself a lot of time and grief had i known the titer was necessary.

I don't think AUA is prepared for this incoming class, and I don't like how non of my calls have been answered and the only correspondence has been through e mail (I would like to however add that Dr. C has been very helpful and actually answers his phone/returns messages).

Day 2 does not look too promising... I'm hoping day 3 will turn out much better.

[Atrain97]

Well it seems you at least have gotten some answers 2 days later I have yet to speak to my advisor after 3 phone calls and an email. The only answers I have gotten is from people who have gotten to speak to someone. I don't know why I believed that once I passed the Step I would somehow be treated like a person.

[Sree Cheruku]

Congratulations on passing.

Things could have been told to me in 5th semester

It's only going to get worse in the clinicals. You're going to have to organize everything like crazy and make copies of every official document like Step 1 scores, your medical clearance, grades from each rotation etc. - because everything that can go wrong will go wrong.

Oh, and make sure you schedule Pediatrics as soon as humanly possible. That's the hard-to-get rotation and Ross just signed an agreement with Wyckoff for 60 more spots (bumping non-Ross students) and this goes into effect 7/08.

[octavio]

hey sree, when all is said and done, how long do you think it will have taken you to graduate from AUA due to all the waiting and little inconviences? 4 yrs? 5yrs? One more question....how many times have you moved since starting clinicals? Much appreciated.

[canal]

after reading these posts, its a little discouraging...can someone tell me what I should do now as a 5th semester to prepare for clinicals?
what paper work, medical tests, letters of rec.,...should I begin doing...thanks for all your help

[Sree Cheruku]

Will take me 3 years 8 months to graduate. The reason being that I moved lots and lots and lots of times (Chicago, Baltimore, Michigan, New York) to ensure that I was enrolled in accredited rotations. Also, I scheduled all my rotations back to back - taking no time off even for Christmas or New Years. For example, last Friday I finished in Michigan. Saturday, I drove to NY and Monday I started my next rotation. Most people find that difficult/annoying - I got used to it. Got used to air beds and lean cuisine and packing everything I own into the back of my car for cross country trips.

As a fifth semester student, the only thing you should be worried about is getting the highest score possible on Step 1. The day you get your Step 1 score back, call your counselor and have her schedule Pediatrics at Wyckoff (or San Juan) as soon as possible. Take the Step 1 score waiting period to make a list of medical specialties your interested in, plan your electives etc. Learn about Greenbook rotations and educate your colleagues. While people complain that we can't be licensed to practice medicine in California, we can't practice in 25 other states either if we don't have Greenbook rotations.

[NicSTX]

Day three went much better. I got my certificates (about to finish my HIPAA) and I have been informed I'm starting at harbor hospital on monday. Harbor also allowed me to get my titers done there, which was a blessing. I got my MMRV and my Hep B (just in case) so that there's no random lab i have to do again later

Now if I could only speak to someone in the clinical department so I can set up my schedule - I'll be happy.

Atrain - call me/e mail me so I can give you a heads up as to what I've heard

Sree - thanks for the heads up, I'll try to get myself into peds asap - could you e mail me what you were talking about with the recommendations and extra copies of things? I want to be prepared (e mail should be on my facebook )

[NicSTX]

So wycoff and san juan are the only 2 peds greenbooks? What have you heard about them, what should I aim for?

[grobble]

Originally Posted by Sree Cheruku

Congratulations on passing.


AUA won't advise you on things like greenbook rotations, letters of recommendation, evaluation forms, away electives, Dean's letters, etc. etc. until it's too late.

Actually AUA just sent out what they called "Residency Boot Camp Training Manual" which outlines deadlines, what you should do for ERAS,ECFMG, get from te school, send to the school, LOR, Dean's Letter process, and evryhting about the Match for those Matching in 2009. They seem to be on top of things for match for 2009.

[Jakeislove]

Do electives have to be at accredited hospitals as well?