Tips for IM Attendings – Chapter 9 – Teach the basics

The best attending physicians understand that their learners need to master the basics. Some attending physicians begin their careers believing that they must sparkle with esoteric and arcane knowledge. Our experience suggests that we must stress the basics. Good clinical care and good diagnostic skill require that we own the basics. We err if we assume that students, interns or even residents know all the basics. Learning medicine takes time. It takes repetition. As you start working with your team, ask them basic questions. You will be amazed at what they do not know. So you should own the basics and make certain that everyone knows them. Some examples may help. How do we treat systolic dysfunction and why? You can go through the drugs and explain the data. You can talk about how to dose those drugs. You can discuss the appropriate use of diuretics. You should ask for the indications for consulting EP about AICD or biventricular failure. Then the next week ask that question again and see if they have learned. Who needs home oxygen? How do you evaluate anemia? What complications do you consider in a patient with a 12 year history of type II diabetes mellitus? What are the side effects of a particular drug? Does this patient’s presentation fit the illness script for community acquired pneumonia? Stress the basics and make certain that your learners understand them. They will become better physicians and they will thank you.
Source: DB's Medical Rants - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Medical Rants Source Type: blogs