UTMB 3rd Year Pediatric Clerkship
(Outpatient Portion)
Every third year medical student at UTMB is required to take the Pediatric Clerkship. UTMB places approximately 240 UTMB third year medical students with preceptors across the state each year for this course. The entire 3rd Year Pediatric Clerkship is six weeks long and is divided into these 4 segments:
- 2 weeks of Pediatric inpatient service (2 days off each week to complete virtual work )
- 1 week of a Pediatric subspecialty
- 1 week of newborn nursery
- 2 weeks of ambulatory-based Pediatrics with a volunteer preceptor (1/2 day off each week to complete virtual work - when this 1/2 day off occurs can be decided by the preceptor)
When
teaching UTMB 3rd year medical students, we ask that you provide them with more than
just a shadowing experience. As we prepare these students for Residency,
they need as much autonomy with your patients as possible. After a day or two of
shadowing to familiarize students to the clinic, we expect them to see
patients independently, obtain a history, do a physical exam and present the
patient to the preceptor with an assessment and plan. We also strongly
encourage students to write notes in EMR. If this is not possible, they can do
a note on a word document for select patients for the preceptor to
review/provide feedback.
During the 2 week ambulatory rotation, UTMB medical students should see the following number of patient encounters.
Well child checks - minimum of:
- Toddlers: 8 patients during the 2 weeks
- Newborns: 8 patients during the 2 weeks
- School age children: 8 patients during the 2 weeks
- Teens: 2 patients during the entire week
- We would also like our students to see a variety of sick patients (a few each day)
The preceptor needs to provide feedback on at least one WCC note and sign off on it signifying feedback. We also ask the preceptor to provide midpoint feedback on the midpoint feedback form which the student will give you. Students should be in PPE for sick visits or potential COVID patients.
Students will do a virtual “OSCE” like activity on a patient we have created on a platform called Virti. It uses a script we wrote, as well as artificial intelligence. This exercise will be on a teen well child visit , where they will discuss confidentiality and and do a HEADS interview. Once students complete the activity, they will get a transcript of their questions and answers as well as a summary of what objectives they met/did not meet and feedback. We ask that they share the transcript with their ambulatory preceptor, and get additional feedback.
Preceptor Qualifications
- MD or DO
- Board certified in Pediatrics
- Preceptors must be licensed and working in the state of Texas
- Must be a Pediatric generalist working in an ambulatory setting
- No outstanding board orders on the Texas State Medical Board
- Preceptor must go through UTMB appointment process before accepting students
- As of April 19, 2022, all preceptors must comply with the CMS mandate and submit proof of COVID vaccination to UTMB's Employee Health. Proof of the first two shots is required. It is not necessary to show proof of a booster shot to be compliant.
Community Teaching Physician Commitment per Student
Teaching time per student: Each student would rotate in your clinic for a 2 week period. We require 4 ½ days each week in a preceptor's clinic (with a 45-hour maximum student work week)
During the first week,
preceptors should orient students to the practice and ascertain their strengths / weaknesses regarding history taking, pediatric physical exam, and presentations. Students have had training in the Electronic Medical Record, and we encourage you to
allow them to write notes on every patient they see. Students should receive feedback on their notes, and one Well Child Visit note needs to be turned in with faculty signature signifying receiving feedback. Student notes can be used by the preceptor
with an attestation.
We appreciate you reviewing their knowledge on growth and development, immunizations and some of the commonly used screening tests during a well visit. We also appreciate you allowing them to see a variety of common sick complaints. By the end of the
two weeks, students should be able to present clearly and concisely with all relevant information. All through this, it is important to work with the students on their differential diagnosis and clinical reasoning. It is very reasonable
to assign students with reading on a variety of topics and have them do presentations. If time permits, it would be great if you can touch on coding, and the financial aspects of running a practice.
Preceptors may ask a student to round with them in the hospital after regular clinic hours. They may also ask the student to work during Saturday clinic hours. Both these teaching opportunities are acceptable as long as that time does not exceed the 45-hour
work week maximum for the student.