PATIENT ENCOUNTER CLINICAL SKILLS WORKSHOPS TO SUPPLEMENT THE CLINICAL CLERKSHIP

Background: Direct observation and feedback regarding clinical skills does not consistently occur in inpatient services. Further, the spectr um of patients encountered on inpatient services is narrow. Descriptio n: As part of our combined medicine-surgery 3rd-year clerkship, we des igned a series of patient encounter clinical skills workshops. The wor kshops followed an objective, structured clinical examination format w ith students rotating to various stations, each of which addresses a d ifferent clinical skill. Actual or standardized patients were intervie wed and examined at most stations, with faculty from appropriate disci plines present to provide standardized feedback and instruction accord ing to preset curricular objectives. Evaluations: Students generally a gree that the workshops provided them an opportunity to practice and r eceive feedback about their clinical skills. End-of-clerkship objectiv e structured clinical examinations tested students' mastery of the ski lls learned in the workshops. Conclusion: Our patient encounter clinic al skills workshops ensured direct observation and feedback regarding clinical skills and also exposed students to a wider variety of patien t problems than inpatient services afforded