M3/M4 students taking the outpatient clerkship may choose to attend any of the various subspecialty clinics or the Ann Arbor VA clinic (Tuesday and Wednesday). Our objective is to provide you with an opportunity to gain experience in the evaluation and treatment of general and subspecialty orthopaedics in the outpatient setting.
In order to assist in organizing your clerkship, please e-mail, fax or bring the orientation session your first and second rotation choices. Given the patient volume of each service, two students can be easily accommodated in each subspecialty. Please contact Dr. Clifford Craig if you have any questions or concerns.
Guidelines for Student Clerkships in Orthopaedic Surgery
1. a. Clinic, patient rounds, operating room and weekend responsibilities will vary from service to service, and should be clarified with the chief resident on the first day of the rotation.
b. Emphasis should be on patient examination and evaluation of clinical findings. However, students are considered part of the clinical team, and as such, are expected to assist the residents with patient care.
c. ER call is optional but strongly encouraged. Most students take call 2 or 3 nights during the rotation. This will provide excellent exposure to common orthopaedic problems and will allow an opportunity to assist the residents with cast applications and fracture reductions.
d. In the clinics, white coats, dress shoes, and ties (for men) are required. Scrub suits and white coats may be acceptable at the discretion of the individual service. ID badges are to be worn at all times, including in the operating room.
e. Respect patient confidentiality at all times, and do not discuss specific patients outside of the professional setting and always in a professional manner.
2. Absences from regular duty or conferences are to be explained in advance to Dr. Craig and the service chief resident.
3. Attendance at all “student conferences” is expected and should take precedence over all other activities, including the operating room and inpatient rounds.
4. Students on the inpatient clerkships are expected to keep a written record (log) of:
a. All operative cases they scrub on, including:
1. Procedure
2. Indications
3. Surgical Approach
4. Findings
b. At least two inpatient or outpatient cases a week in which they actively participated in the patient’s evaluation and treatment, and reviewed with resident or faculty staff including:
1. History
2. Physical Findings
3. Imaging Findings
4. Treatment
c. Any time spent “on call” with the ER resident, documenting date and hours, and signed by the resident.
d. The “log” will be reviewed weekly with Dr. Craig at the Saturday student conference, and turned in to Dr. Craig at the end of the rotation with the rotation evaluation form.
5. Completion of the rotation evaluation form is required. M4 students taking the advanced orthopaedic elective will also be required to make a 15-minute presentation to a Saturday student conference on an orthopaedic topic of their choice.
6. M3/M4 students taking the outpatient clerkship are to complete and turn in to Dr. Craig two patient histories and physicals each week.
7. The rotation is completed at the end of the day on the last Friday of the rotation, except for M3s taking the surgery exam
8. Grades are determined by three evaluation forms completed by at least two faculty members and one resident – or three faculty members. In addition, case presentations, histories and physicals, and student conference participation are part of the assessment