Hi Everyone!! As the year keeps moving along, more and more are completing some really interesting observerships. Read about Rachel's LP working with an oncologist over her Christmas break! What LP did you do? Hematology oncology How did you go about contacting and arranging the LP? I got an email address of a physician from the PA program office, then emailed that physician to make arrangements for me to do the LP. What were the two main things you learned from this LP? I learned a lot about chronic lymphocytic leukemia; I was told by the physician to go home after the first day and read up on it because we had patients the next day who had this. I also learned how to do a history and lymph exam on patients; it was really interesting to learn these 2 skills in a real life setting. What did you wish you knew to help you in your LP? It would have been helpful to know what types of patients we would be seeing on the first day so that I could have prepared and read up on the type of cancers they had beforehand (which is what I did for the second day). I should have asked the physician prior to starting. How has this experience helped you clinically, in class and/or in career decision making? Clinically this placement really helped me prepare for seeing real patients on my own. I gained a lot of confidence doing this. It also helped me with having to talk about tough topics, like the patient’s prognosis. This LP also solidified my career interests of working as a PA in oncology. Any other comments? Another thing that I got to see was how useful a PA is to a busy physician and how much work we can take off their hands, giving them more time. Shannen shares about her oberservership earlier this school year on an EMS rideout.... What LP did you do? EMS ride out How did you go about contacting and arranging the LP? My sister is a paramedic in the surrounding Hamilton area so she was able to connect me with the coordinator for ride outs. I also confirmed with the PA program office that I was in communication with the EMS unit to ensure that I was going about making arrangements correctly and to ensure I had the proper paper work done. What were the two main things you learned from this LP? I learned how all the first responders (paramedics, police, and firefighters) work together and how well coordinated they are with one another. They all know what job/role they have in each situation and work very efficiently. I also learned what drugs and equipment paramedics have with them in their vehicles as well as the specific training that they have to go through in order to do their job. Because of this they are capable and prepared to respond to a large variety of situations. What did you wish could have been different? I wish that I could have done another shift. I did a day shift and would have liked to have done a 12-hour night shift to experience that. How has this experience helped you clinically, in class and/or in career decision making? I’ve gained an appreciation for EMS and inter-professional collaboration. I think it will help in my role as a PA because by better understanding a paramemdic’s role in the health care system will help facilitate us working together more efficiently and effectively. Any other comments? I recommend that first years do an EMS ride out because it is a lot different from other LPs. You are out in the community, and you get to see patients before they come to the hospital since you are first on scene. Check out the newest clerkship guide on Neonatal ICU (NICU) from class of 2013's Cait. This gives you some great insight into how to prep for this possible clerkship. Find the guide here: http://bit.ly/XqaBSf
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