CS in Chicago/general CS questions

[rachmoninov3]

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General C/S questions:
1. What do you take into the room with you? (Do they provide equipment or do you to dress like you did the first day of 3rd year?)

2. How are notes written? Computer/hand? Is there a choice, which do you prefer?

Chicago questions:
Just in general, any tips or experiences you'd care to share?

Thanks

 

[Depakote]

General C/S questions:
1. What do you take into the room with you? (Do they provide equipment or do you to dress like you did the first day of 3rd year?)

2. How are notes written? Computer/hand? Is there a choice, which do you prefer?

Chicago questions:
Just in general, any tips or experiences you'd care to share?

Thanks

You are allowed to bring a lab coat (if it has any embroidery, they put stickers over it) and your stethoscope (which cannot be electronic).

The only other stuff you can have on you is your ID and a credit card or some cash. You can leave some food, medicine, toothbrush, etc in the break room. Everything else must be locked up.

They provide you with a clipboard, paper and 2 pens. You are only allowed to bring that and your stethoscope into the room with you. Everything else will be in the room.

When you're done interviewing the patient, you can pick whether you want to type or hand write your note. (I typed mine) If you're a fast typist and/or a sloppy writer it might be best to do this.

Most of the stuff I just posted is on the USMLE website in their orientation materials. It wouldn't hurt to look at them and the video they have posted. Helped me know what to expect, which was good for de-stressing. They have sample notes there too and an example of the computer format which is worth looking at.

As for test-prep. You're a 4th year now. You should have plenty of practice talking to patients which is what you really need to prepare for this. A read through of First Aid for Step 2 CS wouldn't hurt.

Chicago specific comments... I stayed at the Courtyard Chicago O'Hare. It was reasonable, nice, and only a couple of min away by car. There's a Giordano's pizza really close that does great pizza and will deliver to the hotel.

 

[jtlc2345]

I was just in Chicago the other week for CS. As said already, watch the video on the website as it goes through everything.

At the moment you can either hand write or type your notes - I went for hand but it's personal preference. I think there is a move towards only being able to type up the note on computer, although I'm not sure when this will be introduced.

As for Chicago itself, I stayed at the Holiday Inn which was about 10 minutes walk away on the USMLE rate - there are a few other hotels in the area that offer discounts (e.g. Marriott, Renaissance) so it's worth comparing prices. Also, the proctors get you through the exam very efficiently - I was in the afternoon session and was done just after 10pm - much earlier than I was expecting.

Jonathan

 

[jackieMD2007]

As for Chicago itself, I stayed at the Holiday Inn which was about 10 minutes walk away on the USMLE rate - there are a few other hotels in the area that offer discounts (e.g. Marriott, Renaissance) so it's worth comparing prices.

There is a Marriott RIGHT next to the building you need to be in!

 

[metallo]

I'm taking Step 2 CS in Chicago later this month, and I just reserved a room at the SpringHill Suites. Make sure you check out the Chicago travel guide on the USMLE site, because it gives links to the nearby hotels' webpages with special discount rates for people taking the exam. The best rate I found for my room on any of the main discount travel sites was $149/night, and I got it for $99/night at the USMLE rate. As far as I could tell, Springhill Suites is the only hotel that has free wireless internet in the room AND free parking... I checked out all 5 or 6 hotels on the list and I think everywhere else charged for one or the other or both. I found some bad reviews of the Marriott that was mentioned, so just make sure you do your research before deciding where to stay (TripAdvisor is the site I used).

 

[metallo]

Done with the exam... hopefully forever! I was in the afternoon session in Chicago, and, surprisingly, we were done around 9:45, so I had time to go out to eat and have a few drinks to celebrate afterwards. The exam itself was pretty much exactly what I expected -- it should not be a difficult exam for U.S. grads who have experience seeing patients (real or SPs) on their own. The chief complaints are pretty vague and even after the history and physical, it was still unclear exactly what the diagnosis was a lot of the time, but I think they want you to be able to develop several differentials and workups. Since you can't run lab tests and see the results, you can't be 100% sure of the diagnosis most of the time. I really wasn't surprised by any of the presentations, but it was obvious that they threw in a few curveballs to force you to counsel or elicit specific histories or physical exams that you wouldn't do with most patients. First Aid for Step 2 CS was WAY MORE than enough preparation for the exam, assuming that your clinical background is solid. Overall, the exam seemed very fair. The whole process was done very professionally and efficiently by the test center staff (I can't say enough good things about them), and the food at the break was actually decent (deli meats/sandwiches, salad, soda, water, and cookies/pastries for dessert).

Good luck to everyone taking the exam, and if you have specific questions about the Chicago center, feel free to ask them here or PM me.