• Be assertive in your approach to patient care.

• Residents/attendings have been told that you will see the patient first in the majority of cases. Once you feel comfortable with the process, tell the resident/attending you are ready to see patients on your own. You can do the history, appropriate physical and develop your own management plan. Then review this with the resident/attending. If you need assistance on a particular aspect of your physical examination, etc., please ask the resident/attending to observe and assist you.

• Ask the resident/attending for feedback on your performance.

• Ask questions. Why are we doing what we are doing? This not only helps you to learn, but also helps the resident/attending assess your level and teach you more effectively. There are no stupid questions!

• Be active and stay involved in the care of the patients.

• Have fun!

• Understand that call in family medicine is different than on other services. Your call will be taken from home. You will be assigned a pager for this.

• Plan ahead. Know when you are on call.

• On the day that you are on call, notify the "resident on call" before the working day is over (before 5 p.m. during the week). Remind them you are on call with them. Give them your home number and pager number.

• Remind the resident that you are to be called if the resident comes to the hospital for any patient-related reason.

• You are to see patients under the direction of the resident. You may do a history and physical, write progress notes, write orders, etc., depending on the situation. Be actively involved.

• Be available and have fun!

• Be there on time.

• Ask your resident/attending if you can present the patient(s) you are following in the hospital during report (if they have not instructed you to do so).

• Have all new and updated information regarding your patient(s) ready to present at report.

• You may need to see your patient(s) that morning prior to the report, depending on the circumstances and/or the resident/attending's request.

• Presenting patients during report will help you to stay focused and involved during the report process.

• Understand that report is a recap of the calls that were received the day and evening prior to the report. Ask yourself the following questions as the resident presents information about each one of the calls:

  • Who called? For whom? Why? What was the resident's response? What was the management plan?

  • Was it a good plan? Why or why not?

  • What would you have recommended differently?

• If you find yourself feeling bored, keep reminding yourself that you or your family could be one of the patients, or that you might someday be in charge of those patients' healthcare. Are you listening with a caring and concerned heart?

Follow a patient (or patients) on a regular basis as much as possible during the rotation. You will feel more comfortable providing services.

• Write progress notes and orders under the supervision of the resident/attending whenever possible. You will feel more a part of your patient's care.

• Follow-up on any laboratory data, X-rays, etc., that are not back during rounds, throughout the course of the day.

• Ask your resident if you have any questions or concerns regarding your patient(s).

• You may need to see your patient a second time that day if the situation warrants.

• Be active and involved in the care of your patient(s).