Clinical attachments
- Ask plenty of relevant questions from experienced clinicians (see
below)
- Take every small opportunity to participate (regardless of your ability or
position). Don’t let others get in ahead of you. Take further history. Ask
to examine a system. Ask to present the case first. Provide your suggested
treatment plan.
- Read around the cases and clinical interactions.
- Try to apply new knowledge at the earliest time to reinforce the
application
- Ask for immediate feedback about your performance - 'how did I go?'
RELEVANT QUESTIONS
OF GENERALISTS
Ask them this:
- What is the usual differential diagnosis?
- What are the traps in diagnosis or treatment?
- What are ‘red flags’ that alert you to a serious condition?
- What management options are usually offered?
- How often should you follow them up?
- When should you refer a patient?
- What are common complications seen with the treatments or procedures?
- What kind of advice should be given to the patient?
OF SPECIALISTS
Ask them this:
- What are the mistakes in diagnosis or management?
- What preliminary tests and investigations should be organised prior to
referral by a rurally based GP?
- What initial treatment should be started?
- When should one refer a patient for specialist opinion?
- What are common complications seen with the treatments or procedures?
- How do you diagnose and manage them?
- What kind of advice should be given to the patient?