Inpatient/Outpatient US Clinical Experience in Infectious Disease in Houston

Information about this clinical experience:

This is an inpatient and outpatient experience during which you will be under the supervision of a  board-certified infectious disease physician. Among the hospitals where the preceptor holds staff appointments include Houston Methodist Hospital, Memorial Hermann Hospital, and St. Luke's Health among others. The doctor has served prominent roles in these hospitals through work on the infection control and antibiotic stewardship committees, and has led as Chief of Infectious Disease at one hospital. The physician is sought after for expertise in the field and has been featured in the news and on television addressing hot topics in infectious disease. The preceptor is presently an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Sam Houston University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

This clinical experience is an excellent opportunity for those who are interested in learning about the evaluation and management of patients with a wide variety of infections. Since this rotation has a large inpatient component, students will understand how evidence-based care is delivered to hospitalized patients with community-acquired and hospital acquired pneumonia, urinary tract infection, sepsis, cellulitis, endocarditis, and other infections. With the rise in antibiotic-resistant infections, emphasis will be placed on proper use and prescribing of antibiotics, a relevant concern to all practitioners but especially for primary care physicians who prescribe nearly 1/2 of all courses of antibiotics. You will learn to prescribe antibiotics only when they are needed, and to use these agents at appropriate doses and duration.

In the outpatient setting, you will encounter common infections seen in an infectious disease practice. Please note that this physician also practices internal medicine for the HIV patients in the clinic.

Another part of this rotation is the wound care clinic. Rotators will have the opportunity to see patients in hospital-based wound clinics. Since wound care receives relatively little attention during medical school education, this will be an excellent opportunity to learn how different wounds are evaluated and managed.

During your experience, you will learn the following U.S. medical practices under the preceptor’s supervision:

• Taking patient histories.

• Performing medication reconciliation and adjustment during encounters with patients.

• Performing physical exams under the physician's supervision.

• Presenting patients.

• Writing or entering notes (Practice Fusion EMR)

• Have opportunities to research the literature to answer clinical questions at the point of care.

• Teaching other team members.

• Spending time with other healthcare professionals to understand their roles and responsibilities.

The activities above will mostly take place in the outpatient setting. As a result of hospital policies, inpatient activities will be more observational.