My site visits for Family Medicine were similar to my previous site visits. Again, we were required to submit one H&P and 5 drug cards for our mid site evaluation, and two H&Ps, 5 drugs cards, and a summarized journal article for our second evaluation. Like previous site evaluators, our site evaluator gave us leeway when it came to picking our article, so long as it was of the highest level of evidence. Our site visits flowed more like a conversation than a presentation which made it easier for me to talk about my patient and explain my top differential. I appreciate being able to talk freely about the patient’s presentation without reading directly from the H&P. This is something that I found helpful for learning how to present to my preceptor without referencing my notes. I’ve been working on this skill since the beginning of clinical year but this site visit helped me feel more confident in how to report on a patient and focus on the pertinent information. It is definitely a skill I want to implement in my upcoming rotations. Our site evaluator also asked my classmate and I about our drug cards in random order. This was a great way, low-stakes way of reviewing our drugs. Moving forward I want to focus more on understanding the mechanism of action of commonly used classes/drugs so that I can explain how medications work for my patients should they ever ask me. All in all, both evaluations were concise and comprehensive!

My Family Medicine Rotation was one of the rotations I was looking forward to the most. I wanted to be in an environment where I would be able to interact with adults and children, and not just one or the other exclusively. I was, however, absolutely unprepared by the large volume of patients I saw everyday. During this rotation, I saw anywhere from 45-50 patients a day within an 8 hour span. While many patients presented for annual comprehensive exams or to review results of labs/imaging, others had acute complaints which required further workup. At first I was worried about how I would incorporate study time with such a busy schedule, but I learned to distribute my time in a way that I was able to rest and study everyday. I would come home, nap for a couple of hours, wake up and study for a few hours, then go back to sleep. This was quite an adjustment for me since I haven’t needed to rest in the middle of the day for any rotation but I knew it was necessary to relax a little each day before sitting down to go over my flashcards and study guide. I also took advantage of my preceptor, asking her questions and seeking clarification on lab results, treatment options, and other things I was unsure of. I learned to be confident in my interactions with my patients, and I strengthened my ability to interpret labs (which was a goal of mine for my clinical year).

In some instances, I found it difficult to interact with patients because there was somewhat of a language barrier. During these instances, my preceptor would come into the room with me, but allow me to lead the encounter. Since she is fluent in both English and the language spoken by her patient population, she was able to seamlessly ask whatever questions I had before taking over and discussing the treatment plan with the patient. The patients were kind towards me and always agreeable to having me lead the encounter. This made me feel included in their care, which always felt lovely! These experiences were valuable to me and I know I will carry them into my career. Lastly, I realized during this rotation that I want to strengthen my knowledge on alternative medicine. A lot of the patients I encountered used herbal supplements and spices as adjunct therapies to manage their chronic conditions. I could tell that this practice was important to them and it encouraged me to do my own research during rotations. I want to continue doing research and teaching myself on how these natural remedies may be incorporated into contemporary medicine. Overall, I enjoyed my experience during my Family Medicine rotation and wouldn’t change anything about it!