Inpatient Internal Medicine Clerkship Course Description
(IM 011 through IM 027)
The required eight week clinical clerkship in Medicine is given on the medical service of six of the UCLA teaching hospitals: UCLA Center for Health Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Kaiser Medical Center-Sunset, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, and West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. The eight-week rotation is divided into two blocks, each of four-week duration. Students will rotate at two different hospitals. Although the teaching programs vary somewhat according to the character of the individual hospital, the general format is similar at all six hospitals.
On the medical wards, patients are assigned to students for history taking and physical examinations. The student participates in diagnostic and therapeutic decisions as a member of the ward team. They are responsible for daily notes and orders. Teaching and supervision are provided by the attending physician and residents on the service. The student is encouraged to exercise as much responsibility as possible in patient care. Overnight call with the housestaff team is optional
In addition to the availability of on-going hospital conferences and subspecialty teaching rounds, a structured medical curriculum which includes formal student conferences provides a didactic basis for this clerkship. Suggested textbooks in Medicine include those edited by Stein, Kelley, Harrison, Cecil, and Fishman. The majority of the student's grade is based on evaluations of clinical performance by housestaff and faculty. In addition, a written examination is administered at the end of the eighth week of the clerkship.
The required Clerkship in Medicine is a prerequisite for many, but not all, elective courses in Medicine.
Criteria for Letters of Distinction in Inpatient Internal Medicine
Letters of Distinction are awarded by unanimous vote of the Junior Medicine Clerkship Committee at its bi-monthly meeting. In order to receive a Letter of Distinction in Inpatient Internal Medicine, the student must meet the following criteria:
1. An outstanding clinical performance throughout the clerkship
2. A score of 81 or above (approximately the 80th percentile) on the Internal Medicine Subject Exam.
To understand what demonstrates an outstanding clinical performance, please see the descriptors listed below.
- History Taking:
Precise, logical, through, reliable, purposeful, and focused. Includes all pertinent positives and negatives. - Physical Examinations:
Very complete, accurately done, directed toward patient’s problem(s), and elicits subtle findings. - Case Presentations:
Extremely clear, organized, complete, accurate, and polished presentation appropriate in length to the situation. Uses precise, accurate terminology. - Write-ups:
Outstanding, conscientious and accurate in recording patients’ histories and physical exams. Differential diagnoses are extensive. Outstanding analysis of patient problems. Therapeutic plans are thorough. - Medical Knowledge:
Extensive, well-applied knowledge of disease, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapy. Consistently up to date. Familiar with relevant current journal articles. Judicious in selection of www materials. - Clinical Judgment:
Regularly integrates medical facts and clinical data, weights alternatives, costs, risks and benefits. Understands limitations of knowledge. Wise use of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Regularly applies evidence-based medicine. - Physician Patient Interactions:
Does not use jargon, communication with patients and families. Reflects clarity and empathy. Effective communicator with teams, staff et aI. - Professional Attitude and Behavior:
Enthusiastic, responsive, and reliable. Committed, cooperative and respectful. Establishes trust. Displays initiative.
| Course Chair: | Mark Noah, M.D. (310) 423-5161 mark.noah@cshs.org |
| Coordinator: | Jonathan David |
Inpatient Intermal Medicine Orientation: A two-day orientation for Inpatient Medicine is held at CHS for all sites. The Department of Medicine will post the time and location of the orientation on ANGEL. |
Clerkship Contact Information:
Hospital Site |
Site Director(s) |
Student Coordinator |
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Center for Health Sciences (CHS) |
Teryl Nuckols, M.D. |
Jonathan David |
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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CS) |
Amanda Ewing, M.D. |
Judy Jacobs |
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Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (HARBOR) |
Darryl Sue, M.D. |
Kathleen McGinley |
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Kaiser Medical Center Sunset (KAISER.SUN) |
James R. Evans, M.D. Peter C. Chee, M.D. |
Alicia Summerlin |
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Olive View-UCLA Medical Center (OVH) |
Soma Wali, M.D. |
Mark DeVany |
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West Los Angeles VA Health Care System (WVA) |
Neil Paige, M.D. |
Christine Seydel |
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