Inpatient and Outpatient US Clinical Experience in Internal Medicine in Houston

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 practicing both hospital and outpatient medicine. The physician holds hospital appointments at several institutions, including the HCA Houston Healthcare System and St. Luke’s Health.

Hospital rounds will take place at several institutions. On a typical day, there will be 15-20 hospitalized patients spread across these different hospitals. Rotators will accompany the physician to the medical ward and the ICU to perform evaluations of newly admitted patients and assess the progress of established patients on the service. Thus, you will encounter patients with a range of conditions, some sicker than others. As some patients will require preoperative evaluation prior to surgery, this will also be an excellent opportunity to understand how such patients are evaluated prior to surgery and then followed in the postsurgical or post-procedure period.

In the clinic, you will see patients with both acute complaints and chronic disease. Of note, the patient population that the preceptor cares for includes many patients with multiple comorbidities. Therefore, this experience will be an excellent opportunity for you to learn how to manage patients with complex medical and social conditions. This physician is well regarded for providing patients with personalized care and believes in taking the time necessary to listen to patients and make them feel heard. Patients have consistently praised this preceptor for being a patient and attentive listener and a caring and compassionate healer. Many patients are grateful of the doctor’s efforts to dig deep below the surface to get to the root cause of their problems.

After a few days of observation, you will take on an increasing role in patient encounters and learn the following 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 (eClinicalWorks in the clinic and Athena in the hospital)

• 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.