New exam being added for USMLE

[Medici]

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Forgive me if this has been discussed before; I haven't seen it (although I do conceed the point that this is the first time I've been in this forum).

A friend of mine from the US (another med student) pointed out these two links to me...in short, there will be another exam added to the USMLE series between Step II and III effective class of 2005 onwards.

http://www.usmle.org/news/cse/newsrelease2503.htm
http://www.usmle.org/news/cse/csefaqs2503.htm

 

[PediaSure]

Apparently this idea has been cooking in the minds of the USMLE for quite some time now. Seems there are med studs who graduate not nowing how to take an adequate history or physical. How one can do this I have no earthly idea, but I guess anything is possible.
IMHO, this is a bad way of dealing with the situation. They should come up with a curriculum for med schools to follow. Increase medstuds exposure to patients by beginning in the first 2 years. At my school, we get exposure pretty early. It doesn't make you a professional by year 3, but it eases the transition. Allow med schools to administer the CSAs. instead they are making medstuds shell out $950!!
I think part of it also is to make more money. Hey IMGS pay like $2000 for the CSA already. There are less than 5 sites in the US. So most students are going to have to pay for transportation and hotels. (and MISS time from clinical rotations!). I paid like $350 to take Step 1. I recently paid $420 to take Step 2. One of my classmates took it back in Oct and only paid $400. Why the mark-up!!

 

[rirriri]

its about time AMGs get the pain in the arse that is known as the CSA.

 

[nychick]

Mmm... More like only 2 sites, and before last year, only one site.
You used to have to go to Philly. Now it's Philly or Atlanta.

And yeah, it was mucho money, especially if you include all the travel costs...

 

[Hero]

Originally posted by PediaSure
..IMHO, this is a bad way of dealing with the situation. They should come up with a curriculum for med schools to follow. Increase medstuds exposure to patients by beginning in the first 2 years. At my school, we get exposure pretty early. It doesn't make you a professional by year 3, but it eases the transition. Allow med schools to administer the CSAs. instead they are making medstuds shell out $950!!
I think part of it also is to make more money. Hey IMGS pay like $2000 for the CSA already. There are less than 5 sites in the US. So most students are going to have to pay for transportation and hotels. (and MISS time from clinical rotations!). ..

i agree with this 100%. I feel many medschools already have great progams that teach students how to take histories and physicals. Why not just build on that instead of milking med students for more money?

 

[DermpathDO]

Clinical skills examinations will soon be required of most states in the country for licensure. USMLE and COMLEX are both in process of adding that to their repertoire. Sorry Kiddies