I am working on my book order for the first semester and I was just wondering if I really need to buy the Deluxe Clinical Equipment Kit( costs 325) or just go for the Economy kit? The Deluxe kit also comes with oto/ophthalmascope. I don't mind buying it if necessary. But I would rather spend the extra money on some board review books instead, if I can manage it with the economy kit. Also, the same thing with the Littmann Cardiology Stethoscope ($159) vs. Lightweight Stethoscope (49). If someone can advice me on those two things, I would appreciate it.

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" YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE GREAT TO START, BUT YOU HAVE TO START TO BE GREAT "
Joe Sabah

equipment kit for term 1? i wouldn't buy anything because it's only the 1st semester! if you do need anything u can just borrow it from someone or the school.

Well, they list all these things for the first semester requirements. I assume we will need them along the 4 terms and for the Miami Term or otherwise why would they list them as requirements? And I really don't want to have to look for a kit on the island when I need it. I like to take care of everything in advance.

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" YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE GREAT TO START, BUT YOU HAVE TO START TO BE GREAT "
Joe Sabah

You'll have these things for years to come - buy the nice one. Many students I know who purchased the cheap (economy) set early on have been very dissapointed with it when they finally learn how to use all of the components of it. Same for the stethoscope - get the nice one. You worked countless days for the right school - don't cheap out on the supplies for your education and career.

MitchDC

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MitchDC/MD
RUSM 2006 Graduate

You can buy it but you won't even use it til 4th semester. Maybe once or twice to check blood pressure at health fairs or something else you may volunteer for.

I didn't buy mine yet and I haven't needed it either. Personally I would wait. I do have a bp cuff and steth from my previous job but never had the opportunity to use it here.

Why do schools tell students they need this sort of diagnostic equipment in their first semesters (It's not just the carib schools, btw).

Get a decent scope, the top of the line is usually considered to be a Littman Cardiology III or Master Cardiology. If you want, you can get a bp cuff (aneroid sphygmomanometer), I like my Tycos hand model, I've had it for years and years, and finally had to send it to the factory for some servicing - $32 later it's brand new, certified accurate, etc. Don't get an oto/opthalmoscope until you actually need one, the batteries only last about 2 years so they'll start going bad about the time you really need one. They are also expensive to replace, especially the lithium ion ones.

Now, whatever you're going to get, SHOP AROUND for it. I buy my stethescopes and BP cuffs on Ebay - brand new. Other good sources are www.allheart.com or www.scopesplus.com. Shop around!

You can also find the oto/opthalmoscopes on Ebay. I bought a top of the line Welch-Allyn (not the panoptic, it's too big to carry around) on ebay, from 3 or 4 different sellers. I also had to buy a new battery, and a new case, the total for everything (case, battery, otoscope head, insufflator bulb, opthalmoscope head, handle, speculae, spare bulbs, etc) was just a bit under $300.00 But, you don't really need it until you start learning diagnostic skills.

The rest of the nonsense (penlight, tuning fork, pocket snellen card, and all the rest of the little stuff) can wait, too.

wildream, where are you shopping for your stuff?

I agree that you may not need ALL the things right away and its fine if you want to wait until 3rd or 4th to buy some of it. However, I have seen countless students either using a cheap model and pretending to see in the eye because those cheap models are awful or using an antique and it nearly falling apart during an exam.

MitchDC

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MitchDC/MD
RUSM 2006 Graduate

link,
I am shopping my stuff from the Bookstore. They are very friendly. They will go over every book, every material, and even tell you which book is most important, which ones most students choose, etc.

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" YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE GREAT TO START, BUT YOU HAVE TO START TO BE GREAT "
Joe Sabah