Rotation Sites-which type is the best?

[herky010]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I have been doing a lot of research on the third and forth years of medical school to try and help decide which school I should attend next fall (AZCOM or KCOM) and I've come across ward-based and preceptorship-based rotations a lot. Which of the two types (if there are more than two types let me know) provide a better learning experience (more hands-on, get to know more people, medicine generally). Thanks!

 

[BassCaster]

The type you feel to be the best fit for you and you'll be happiest with.

lol, jk. that just seems to be the answer to every question around here. i have no clue... didn't even know there were two types of rotations. i'd like to know the answer to this question also.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

I have been doing a lot of research on the third and forth years of medical school to try and help decide which school I should attend next fall (AZCOM or KCOM) and I've come across ward-based and preceptorship-based rotations a lot. Which of the two types (if there are more than two types let me know) provide a better learning experience (more hands-on, get to know more people, medicine generally). Thanks!

Preceptorship has a huge downside if you're with a preceptor that you clash with, your stuck with them. Preceptorship can be an effective way to learn, however wards is still much more popular and the standard. I would ask students in their 3rd and 4th years what they think of the system. Also it seems primary care in the outpatient arena is better served by preceptorship. Wards is more likely to be inpatient.

 

[st2205]

You're not going to get a very good answer from this, as even the perspective of 3-4th years and even residents is still limited, and what would be more important is what a practicing physician's advice would be. I started to notice that the people who complained about preceptorship rotations did so because when they went somewhere else (i.e. more structured teaching hospital with residents and interns) they felt more lost and unprepared, but this had more to do with the formalities of the structure rather than the actual practice of medicine.

I don't know much about how AZCOM does their rotations, but be aware that with Kirksville you can opt for a preceptor-based site (Utah, some in Missouri, some scattered around) or other locations that are hospital based (Des Peres [St. Louis], Doctor's Hospital [Columbus], Henry Ford [Michigan], Kirksville, etc.) or even opt for places that are mixed (Phoenix).

I recently talked to a 4th year who did his 3rd year at a preceptor site and came back to Kirksville for his 4th year. He said he learned more in a preceptor-based environment. Others have held opposite opinions. The most common pros I hear about preceptor-based is that you get to do more (several people tell me that on surgery, for instance, they're always first assistant, as opposed to being 3rd-4th in line behind residents and interns). A common pro that people reference is that at teaching hospitals with residency programs, you can get a lot of "face time" (a fancy phrase for ass kissing). A lot of people will tell you a lot of different things, but just research it best you can.

 

[Hal Jordan]

This is interesting. I had never thought of this consideration when applying. Thank God for SDN!

So since we are talking about this, how do we go about checking what approach a school's rotations offer.

 

[JaggerPlate]

So since we are talking about this, how do we go about checking what approach a school's rotations offer.

Search around the forums ... you'll see this is a million dollar question that just about everybody wants to know. There is some good advice around here.

 

[JaggerPlate]

You're not going to get a very good answer from this, as even the perspective of 3-4th years and even residents is still limited, and what would be more important is what a practicing physician's advice would be. I started to notice that the people who complained about preceptorship rotations did so because when they went somewhere else (i.e. more structured teaching hospital with residents and interns) they felt more lost and unprepared, but this had more to do with the formalities of the structure rather than the actual practice of medicine.

I don't know much about how AZCOM does their rotations, but be aware that with Kirksville you can opt for a preceptor-based site (Utah, some in Missouri, some scattered around) or other locations that are hospital based (Des Peres [St. Louis], Doctor's Hospital [Columbus], Henry Ford [Michigan], Kirksville, etc.) or even opt for places that are mixed (Phoenix).

I recently talked to a 4th year who did his 3rd year at a preceptor site and came back to Kirksville for his 4th year. He said he learned more in a preceptor-based environment. Others have held opposite opinions. The most common pros I hear about preceptor-based is that you get to do more (several people tell me that on surgery, for instance, they're always first assistant, as opposed to being 3rd-4th in line behind residents and interns). A common pro that people reference is that at teaching hospitals with residency programs, you can get a lot of "face time" (a fancy phrase for ass kissing). A lot of people will tell you a lot of different things, but just research it best you can.

Nice response ... really not much to say after this 👍