Longitudinal Preceptorship

(UCLA & UCR/UCLA only)

(MD006)

During the third year, students have the opportunity to explore primary care or specialty fields in greater depth with an emphasis on building clinical skills and understanding the practice rewards and demands of different specialties. The Preceptorship begins in August and continues throughout the remainder of the third year with a total of 14 sessions scheduled one half-day (1:30-5 pm) approximatelytwice per month.(The Preceptorship schedule corresponds to each student's Doctoring 3 schedule; the Preceptorship takes place each afternoon of the student’s scheduledDoctoring 3 morning session.)

• At the mid-point of the third year (in January), the student may change Preceptors to explore another practice or specialty.
• Students in primary care specialties have the option of staying with the same Preceptor throughout the year, whereas those in unusual or high-demand specialties may be required to switch at mid-year

OBJECTIVES

 

Improve history-taking, physical examination skills, assessment and approach to the management of common clinical problems encountered in the practice setting or field where applicable.

Accuracy in collecting the pertinent history	Ability to conduct a focused work-up
Proficiency with the physical examination	Ability to present findings and assessments for discussion

Become familiar with the practical elements involved in clinical practice

Qualities of clinical decision-making process	Rewards and demand of practice
Skills needed for successful patient care	Breadth and diversity of professional opportunities within the specialty
Types of notes and charts needed for competent care

Explore an area of medicine in more depth, perhaps as a possible specialty choice, OR gain experience in conducting clinical research.

FORMAT

The student is responsible for being on-site with his/her preceptor from 1:30 to 5:00 pm on all assigned Doctoring 3 days. The student is responsible for contacting the assigned preceptor prior to the first session to confirm the first date of attendance, introduce himself/herself, exchange e-mail addresses and phone numbers, and obtain directions to the site.

 

EVALUATION

The final evaluation for the Preceptorship will be based on three components: 

1. Attendance at all of the Preceptor sessions or at designated make-ups.
2. Documentation that the student has been observed conducting an H&P on at least 1occasion per semester, for purposes of providing feedback. (Exception: one 8-week Preceptorship is allowed in areas such as Radiology, Pathology, or Psychiatry where H&P experience is not available; however, studentsare required to choose at least one other8-week session in a specialty where student can be observed conducting an H&P on at least one occasion.)
3. A passing grade for clinical performance from the Preceptor for each 8-session period, using the standard clinical performance rating form for the clerkships.

Course Chair:	Susan Stangl, M.D., M.S.Ed. (310) 206-0976 sstangl@mednet.ucla.edu
Coordinator:	Amy Frazier (310) 267-0442 afrazier@mednet.ucla.edu