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Internal Medicine, Rheumatology (Arizona)

Description

Students are assigned to the Rheumatology Consultation Service in the hospital, where they make daily rounds. The service usually has a consultant, one rheumatology fellow and, occasionally, a resident. Ideally, students work up one consultation per day. The initial consultation is done by a student, whenever possible, who then follows the patient throughout his/her hospital stay. There is no evening call.

Students are expected to attend Saturday rounds with the consultation team. They also are expected to attend both the Thursday and Friday morning rheumatology conferences. In the afternoons, students accompany the consultant back to the clinic and see the consultant's patients. This consultation elective should provide students with exposure to a variety of rheumatologic problems.

Specific goals

  1. Perform a rheumatologic evaluation, including history, a physical exam and a complete musculoskeletal examination.
  2. Formulate a differential diagnosis and request appropriate laboratory studies.
  3. Interpret the laboratory studies.
  4. Advise a course of treatment, including medications and/or physical therapy depending on the nature of the problem.
  5. Become familiar with rheumatologic modalities, including the appropriate use, indications, pharmacology and potential side effects of joint aspirations and injections, anti-inflammatory agents, corticosteroids and disease modifying agents.
  6. Perform an arthrocentesis during the rotation.

Activity outline

Students attend daily hospital rounds from 8:30 a.m. to approximately noon daily, except Sunday. In the afternoon, students see patient consultations in the clinic and work up patients in the hospital. Students also are required to attend rheumatology conferences held Thursday and Friday, at 7:30 a.m. in the 15th floor lecture hall of the Mayo Building.

Method of evaluation

The consultants and residents who work with students complete evaluations. These evaluations are discussed with the students before their departure.

  • ART877427