Outpatient US Clinical Experience in Psychiatry in Washington D.C. in Washington D.C.

Information about this clinical experience:

You will be under the supervision of a physician who is board-certified in psychiatry. This is an experienced psychiatrist who is both a dedicated practitioner and a committed educator. The preceptor is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine and teaches third and fourth-year medical students.

In the practice, rotators will be exposed to a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and ADHD among others. The preceptor believes strongly in providing patients with comprehensive care that is both holistic and evidence based.

In the first week, you will learn how to develop differential diagnoses and assess mental status. The preceptor encourages learners to think through all possibilities that could explain the patient’s presentation and eliminate each one until a correct diagnosis is made. Students will learn how to assess for and rule out substance etiology or disorder due to a general medical condition and define the specific primary disorder. This emphasis on critical thinking in psychiatry will help ensure that the correct diagnosis is made. Establishing accurate diagnoses requires the ability to properly interview patients and assess mental status. To help you gain confidence in the mental status exam, we encourage you to read the following article:

Mental Status Exam in Primary Care: A Review

In the second week of the clinical experience, the learner will dive deep into psychopharmacology. Rotators will become more familiar with the different classes of medications available to treat mental health conditions, including their mechanisms of action, indications, and common adverse effects. A useful resource to review:

Psychiatric Medication Tips and Clinical Pearls

In the third and fourth weeks, the focus will shift to the formulation of the assessment and plan. Students will be encouraged to develop an interdisciplinary treatment plan that incorporates diagnostic testing and management strategies. Rotators will learn how to properly present patients and document the findings of the evaluation.

As this physician has a special interest in addiction medicine, you will also have the opportunity to see how these patients are evaluated and treated. You will learn how management plans are developed and the role of medications like Suboxone and Vivitrol in supporting patients through the recovery process.

This practitioner is trained in treatment modalities that patients require when standard treatments have proved unsuccessful. For example, depressed patients who have not responded to psychotherapy or medication may be treated with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) or Spravato therapy. Rotators will have the opportunity to understand the indications for such treatment, how the procedure is conducted, and other issues related to the therapy.

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.

• Searching and accessing information in the EMR (DrChrono)

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

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