Saturday, June 19, 2004
H-W Photo/Michael Kipley Thomas miller, M.D., a family practice physician at Quincy Family Practice Center, explains to medical student Jeffrey Lake, right, how to give injections into joints such as knees and shoulders, during a portion of a Summer Externship Program, which gives medical students a glimpse of the real world practicing medicine.
By Kelly Wilson
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
After a tough first year in medical school, Linda Hodges had one question: "Why did I ever do this?"
Then she spent two weeks observing doctors in Quincy during a required preceptorship at the Quincy Family Practice Center. The experience, though short, was enough to re-energize Hodges.
"This is a little break that reminds you why you're doing this," she said. "The first year, it's all about you — getting to class, passing the tests, just getting through each week. But (the clinical observation) reminds you it's not just anatomy and physiology or biochemistry. There are people involved in all these things you're learning."
The time she spent in Quincy was such a positive experience, she's back in town for a four-week emergency medicine rotation at Blessing Hospital.
Hodges, now in her fourth year of medical school at the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Mo., says students hear so many great things about the two-week preceptorships that they fight for spots to do rotations in Quincy.
Dr. Thomas Miller isn't surprised medical students have such positive experiences here.
"We offer a different perspective than the urban environment," said Miller, residency program director at the Quincy Family Practice Center, which is affiliated with the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.
He says faculty physicians and resident physicians at the Family Practice Center, as well as Blessing Hospital staff, welcome the opportunity to show medical students the ropes.
"It's our lifeblood," Miller said, referring to SIU's role as a teaching facility. "We enjoy having the students."
Five other local physicians also help out when medical students come to town — Drs. Crystal Perry, Tim Beth, Steve Ginos, Pam Friye and Harry Ruth.
Mary Ann Epley, residency coordinator, says the center frequently hosts medical students from Chicago, Peoria and Springfield in Illinois; Kansas City, Columbia and Kirksville in Missouri; and Des Moines, Iowa.
"Next month, we're going to have seven at a time," she said. "June, July and October are heavy months."
Most of the students stay for four weeks, although some stay for just two.
Quincy has been home the past two weeks to Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine students Jeffrey Lake, David Peterson and Kirk Lammi. They put in their last day Friday.
They spent 50 to 60 hours each week observing physicians in both clinic and hospital settings and participating in educational sessions. They stayed in a nearby house provided by Blessing Hospital, and meals were provided.
"This is the first time they can get some patient care experience," Miller said. "We emphasize the importance of the history and physical exam. They see how powerful those techniques are early."
Lake says watching doctors give focused patient exams has been an eye opener, and "not something you learn in a textbook."
In addition to following residents on rounds at the hospital and sitting in on patient visits at the center, the medical students visited rural clinics in Golden, Pittsfield and Monticello, Mo., and spent a couple nights in Blessing's emergency room.
"This is a good way to motivate you," Lammi said. "We've been working with a variety of professionals — physician assistants, residents, attending and senior physicians."
He's impressed with not only their medical expertise, but also their sensitivity to patients.
"They still have time to show that they care, not just for the patient but the whole family," Lammi said.
Lake has appreciated the teaching techniques used by the physicians. "They don't make you feel stupid," he said. "They want you to learn and listen."
As a fourth-year medical student, Hodges is getting even more during her second stint in Quincy.
"I'm getting ready to go on interviews and choose a specialty," she said. "So I try to mix the learning with talking to different doctors about their specialties, and learning about the business aspect of medicine.
"It's really exciting and motivating," she added. "You look at these (practicing physicians) and you're in awe. There are a lot of really good people to look up to."
