Purchasing Medical Equipment for 1st YearUsually there is a sale at the beginning of the year for first year medical / physician assistant students where they can get medical equipment up to 50% or more off, so wait before going to the bookstore before making those announcements.
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CLINICAL COAT2. The White Coat: The white coat should contain one breast pocket, and two lower pockets. It should be knee length with long sleeves. This can be purchased from the University book store, however, the program I went to provided these free to students (ask the PA Program prior to deciding to purchase one).
The times that these are used during observerships in hospitals (these generally were not worn in family medicine), for formal evaluation days (e.g. the OSCE), and frequently during clerkship year. Note: Scrubs are never a requirement to purchase. Upon starting a clerkship placement, on your first day, usually the person orientating you will let you know where you can get the hospital scrubs free. |
3. Penlight: Second only to the stethoscope, this is perhaps one of the most useful pieces of equipment you will have. Its used for the neurological exam, when examining for pupil constriction reflexes. It is also used to visualize the back of the throat during an ENT (ears, nose, throat) exam. You can also use it to provide “tangential lighting” when trying to visualize a jugular venous pulsation when assessing for fluid overload (JVP, cardiology exam). Although not used particularly much during my clinical skills class in my first year, I found myself requiring this during my clerkship rotation.
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4. Reflex Hammer: Useful for the neurological exam, however, quite cumbersome to carry around. Try to find one small enough to fit in your pocket, not a necessity since some use the diaphragm/bell of their stethoscopes to elicit reflexes. Most doctor’s offices carry this. The reflex hammer is especially useful during the emergency medicine second year clerkship rotation. Use the other hand of the reflex hammer to test for babinski’s sign.
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4. Opthalamoscope: used to look in the eye. Opthalmascopes are used sparingly in the family setting, however used more often in the Emergency Room for acute presentation of red eye, eye pain, or foreign object in the eye. I would not recommend getting this since it is rarely used as frequently as the stethoscope. However, if you are an ophthalmology resident or optometry student, this is essential. If you wish to purchase one, Welch-Allyn seems to the brand most common in most Ontario physician offices.
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6. Blood Pressure Cuff: You will get plenty of practise with this during your clinical skills class, as well as within almost all of your core rotations. Not necessary to purchase at all. If you are keen on mastering the blood pressure cuff, again, book time with your program for a room with designated medical equipment for students to practice, or see if you can sign one out from the program office. Welch-Allyn is the most popular brand. there are pediatric sizes available, however, not necessary to purchase either.
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ABOUTMPASA is the Student Association for McMaster's Physician Assistant Education Program in
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. |
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