questions to ask an internist

[sike08]

hey guys i was going to shadow an internist soon. what questions are good questions to ask specifically?

this is my first shadow but i know the basic questions to ask. any special questions or experiences you have had to help me out?

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[fishbait63]

What kind of doctor is s/he?

If they are a hospitalist ask for a printout of their notes on the patient of the day. You will not get anything from rounds initially, but go over the notes so you can learn meds, and look up many of the words you don't know.

When someone presents their notes, ask for one liners! But the general format of notes is SOAP subject, objective assessment and plan which you soon know so you have an expectation of what they are about to say.

If they are a generalist read American Family Physician is advice i got from the doctors I followed.

 

[Web MD]

Ask how much of their day is spent on paperwork and insurance, what their experience has been with malpractice, their opinion on whats needed in health care reform, the current NP push towards primary care and how they view it (probably a predictable answer on this one), why they chose their field (the hours? type of patients?), and try to get a read on their thought process when encountering new patients

 

[camo]

How much money do you make? DUH- this is the only one that matters.

haha only kidding...

Ask him why he chose internal medicine? Ask him when he dicided to pursue a career in medicine. you know, things along those lines.

 

[Mattabet]

I agree with the above. Ask the questions about why he likes his job, so that you can decide if you might like it too - this is kind of the point of shadowing. Also, don't feel compelled to keep asking questions. Ask if you're curious, but not just to fill silence - questions get annoying when you're asking them just for the sake of asking something.