So my first rotation is FM and is in a prison. I figure I'll get a lot of psych and tele-med exposure but I wanted to know what you guys think and would gladly take any advice. Thanks 🙂
FM prison rotation
- Thread starter kirkirkir
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Don't drop the soap.
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If inmates prepare the food, beware.
That odd taste in the iced tea could be iced pee.
That odd taste in the iced tea could be iced pee.
bring my own lunch. got it.
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One prison doctor I've worked with (as a medical student) advised me to look confident, saying that prisoners expect their doctors to act the way that doctors on TV do. I'm not sure whether that's the case or not. I found that being calm, respectful, and showing genuine interest in their problems went a long way with prisoners just as it does in other settings.
I also found that while there might be some hooting and 'hollering' out of the windows where it's relatively anonymous in person most of these people were just really focused on figuring out their medical issues, which were often significant, meaning the interaction was not so different from the interactions I had in other outpatient settings.
I also found that while there might be some hooting and 'hollering' out of the windows where it's relatively anonymous in person most of these people were just really focused on figuring out their medical issues, which were often significant, meaning the interaction was not so different from the interactions I had in other outpatient settings.
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Remember that if you are perfectly professional and appropriate you are being much nicer to them than most other people they interact with on a daily basis. Also, you may be able to help them/give them something they want. Most (not all) will want to be on your good side.
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I did a prison rotation and it was one of my favorites so far. Just be reasonably polite, try not to apologize too much, don't wear a tie, and don't tell them both your first and last name or else you might get strange friend requests on facebook. Most of the prisoners were very cool with allowing me to work with them, including a lot of hands-on doctoring skills that many sites are reluctant to allow students to do on real patients. The doctors were also enthusiastic about teaching. Depending on where you are, you'll see tons of psychopathology. A very large portion of the inmates I saw even in the medical clinic were also psych patients. It's great practice at learning how to deal with malingering.
Prison was a good place to learn about telemedicine, acute psych issues, malingering, hepatitis, minor trauma, drug abuse, medicolegal issues, and certain infectious diseases.
Prison would not be a good place to learn OB, pediatrics, geriatrics, psychotherapy, or cardiology.
EDIT: The prisoners reacted very well to positive feedback and verbal expressions of gratitude, even if it was for something minor.
Prison was a good place to learn about telemedicine, acute psych issues, malingering, hepatitis, minor trauma, drug abuse, medicolegal issues, and certain infectious diseases.
Prison would not be a good place to learn OB, pediatrics, geriatrics, psychotherapy, or cardiology.
EDIT: The prisoners reacted very well to positive feedback and verbal expressions of gratitude, even if it was for something minor.
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