Inpatient/Outpatient US Clinical Experience in Internal Medicine in Denver

Information about this clinical experience:

This rotation split between the inpatient and outpatient settings will be under the supervision of a board-certified internal medicine physician with years of experience educating U.S. medical students as well as international medical students and graduates. The physician holds hospital appointments at AdventHealth and has been a clinical preceptor for osteopathic students from Rocky Vista University where the doctor serves as a faculty member.

In the clinic, you will see patients with both acute complaints and chronic diseases. For patients with acute symptoms, the emphasis will be on acquiring relevant details of the history that will allow you to develop a sound differential diagnosis and reason through this differential until you establish a diagnosis and treatment plan. For patients with chronic disease, you will learn how to assess the status of these conditions and then adjust the treatment regimen. Behavior change that is necessary to improve health can be difficult for patients to implement. Rotators who spend time with this physician will be able to take note of how a seasoned clinician supports and encourages patients to effect change.

Of note, approximately 30% of patients seen in the clinic are non-English speaking. Participating in the care of these patients will allow you to appreciate how care can be delivered when there are language barriers.

You will also join the physician in the hospital. During these 12-hour hospital shifts, you will learn how a hospitalist evaluates, admits, and treats newly hospitalized patients and follows the progress of established patients.

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

• Taking patient histories under supervision.

• Performing exams under the physician's supervision.

• Presenting patients.

• Writing or entering notes in the EMR (Practice Fusion)

• Researching the literature to answer clinical questions at the point of care.

• Educating patients under supervision.

• 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.