medical students in consultations ....

Wonkylegs

just wondered if any of you had experienced medical students sitting in on appointments with rheumatologists?

I have often had students in consultations when seeing other specialists, (esp gynaecology :shock: ) and have usually not minded because I was warned in advance they were in clinic, and offered the opportunity to say if I would rather they were not there.

Yesterday there were two medical students in the room with the rheumy (I only know they were students because I was asking the nurse whether I would be seeing a registrar or the consultant & it came up in conversation that the consultant had two med students with him) but the consultant himself never introduced them, or told me why they were there, or anything, but they were asking questions of me too! I dont' have anything to hide, and they were perfectly polite, but it just seemed a bit unusual. Perhaps it is just my consultant?

anyone else any different experiences?

colinone

HI Legs
Yes I have had the students a few times but I have always been asked and they have always been introduced. I think it’s a good thing but last year I was in hospital for a kidney operation and the day before the op the surgeon came with a group of students male and female. I agreed to it but little did I know it was to be a full exam with questions and answers. I felt so embarrassed. I think perhaps your Rheumy should have introduced them. As I said in one of my early posts some doctors just don’t have people skills. You never said how you got on. Take Care
Colin

scattered

I've had med students in with my RD a few times and there is frequently one in with my GP. They are usually introduced though. I find those appts are normally a bit more through regarding explanations, as the doctor is explaining the procedure for their benefit, not just mine. I like to think we all learn something!

skezier

Hi Wonky,
Not with the Rumo but with the Neuro...... they weren't introduced, I wasn't told before I was told in front of them and couldn't say no... I was stripped off, no blanket and treated like a cadaver..... not nice! They looked worried by his attitude but that particular Neuro has the people skills of a squashed slug!

As Colin (Hi by the way and to scattered) said how did you get on?
Take care
Cris x

vonski

Hi Wonky

I've had students with consultants, Dr. and nurses, never been asked if it was ok but always introduced. I think you get more time and get listened to better when they are out to impress students so I don't mind.

Just read Skeziers post so I must have been lucky.

Love
Vonski x

frogmorton

Hi Wonk
The hospital I go to is teaching so there are always students and for once I really don't mind. In general I am a very private person you see.
I quite like it because he explains stuff to them and I eavesdrop!!!!
Love
Toni x

jackie1955

Hi all,
Yes Toni, mine is a teaching hospital too and there are signs up advising people of this, and that students may sit in on consultations/examinations. You are advised and asked if you have any objections beforehand. When this has happened to me, both as an inpatient and outpatient, the student/s have always been introduced.

I don't mind at all, because you do seem to get a more thorough 'going over'

Jackie x

eckstardeluxe

Not in Rheumy but I have experience of them being there throughout my life. I had a nasty experience last year but it wasn't the students fault, it was the Consultant talking to them. He told them my body was like a circus dwarve!!!!! I put in a complaint as he also called me fat in a letter I peeked at. I got a letter back last week and he was trying to justify it because he thought I had a type of hydrochondroplasia (sp?) that you see in dwarves. The fact he said it in front of students was very concerning. The apology was very cocky, let's see how cocky he is when the Ombudsman get involved.

woodbon

I had a med student twice when I saw the Rheummy. He didn't introduce them, but the appointment letter said med students could be their and if you preferred not to have them, to tell the nurse before you went in. It would be nice just to introduce them, though, and good manners! Too much to ask?. Love SUe

joanlawson

Some doctors get so caught up in the work that they forget we are actually people with feelings.It is only good manners to introduce anyone who is going to ask personal questions or examine you.

When my daughter was a child, a consultant explained to her that some students would like to see her so that they could learn new things. He asked for her permission and she agreed for them to look at her. She was 6 :!: but I thought that was so nice, because he asked her, not me.
Joan

lindalegs

I'm usually asked if mind students being in on a consultation when an outpatient but as an inpatient I think it's accepted that they're part of a consultants team.

Once as an outpatient, seeing a hand surgeon, I was asked to perform certain tasks with my hands in front of a panel of students - the tasks being things like unscrewing a coffee jar, picking up small buttons from a table, etc - I was very embarassed at my inability to do these simple things and felt like an animal in a circus :oops: :oops: It was horrible

Luv Legs

Wonkylegs

thanks for all the replies ........... and for understanding!

I know what you mean about sometimes learning more than if the students had not been there :? :? but that didn't happen to me that day!

To be honest I'm not sure how I got on really ...... :? ......

He asked all the same questions as usual;
Interrupted me with another question just as I began each answer, as usual;
I asked specific questions but got no specific (or unspecific!) answers .... as usual;

told me he was glad that the increased dose of MTX was working (must have been for the students benefit that .... as he was very very reluctant to let me have the increased dose at our last meeting!) but didnt help me to understand the problems I am having with my thumb, or offer any really constructive advice.

So a fairly usual (and mostly useless for me) consultation for him, all in all, I'm afraid to say.

The best help I get is from my rheumatology nurses but the appointment has now been changed twice and i don't go until June unless I ring and ake a fuss.

clariana

Hello. Not posted for a long time. Some posters seem to think you can't say "no" to students being present, but you can, and indeed you should if it makes you uncomfortable. Perhaps you are educating your specialist (and the students) in behaving more decently towards you, if you do?

I remember a few years ago, I was about to be given an extremely serious diagnosis and three or four people piled into the room and one even smiled at me when I glared at them. the Dr had began to say "Well Mrs H..." I cut him short and said something like: "Obviously this is not going to be good news, can those people leave the room, please?" So they trooped out. I was later told that they hoped to learn how to break bad news, well sorry, not at the expense of my dignity and privacy.

Clariana

woodbon

Years ago, I spent a month in hospital and I had blood tests at least once a day. Often they done by med students. Some were fine, some couldn't find a vain. After one grulling session with a student who had to go and get the doctor in the end, I asked not to have students anymore. The junior doc said 'We all have to learn, you know', but I stood my ground and refused and had no further trouble or comments. I think I'd already done my bit as a pin cusion. :shock: Sue

airwave

woodbon wrote:

Years ago, I spent a month in hospital and I had blood tests at least once a day. Often they done by med students. Some were fine, some couldn't find a vain. After one grulling session with a student who had to go and get the doctor in the end, I asked not to have students anymore. The junior doc said 'We all have to learn, you know', but I stood my ground and refused and had no further trouble or comments. I think I'd already done my bit as a pin cusion. :shock: Sue

Hi All,
I believe doctors, GPs, consultants, god like beings and students ought to be taken aside and taught how to be courteous to patients, why should we have to put up with their little foibles, bad manners and offhand ways without having to complain? Put this into place at the start of their careers and enjoy a better relationship for ever.

You might note, I do feel very strongly about this! It may well take up some of their time but in the end we would have a much more amenable system and understand each others wants and needs.

8) Its a grin, honest!

eckstardeluxe

As someone said previous, it is your right to decide if you want them there or not. Since I've been hospitalised throughout my life since birth, I've never minded them being there. Even when they've had 10 go's at my veins it didn't bother me as I knew they had to learn from somewhere. My experience with students has always been positive, sadly I can't say the same about the people teaching them. I had a student apologise to me when a Dr left the room after arguing with me. The student said they wanted the ground to swallow them up. I was glad as I knew at least they could see bad practice and were aware of how upsetting it can be for the patient. Plus they always seem more thorough.