Enhanced ambulatory experience for the clerkship: curriculum innovation at the University of Michigan.
An innovative ambulatory experience was added to the third-year psychiatry clerkship at the University of Michigan in July 1998. The new program was developed to increase ambulatory time to one day per week and to enhance the educational experience. Students actively participated in evaluation of new patients, conducted group interviews of simulated patients, and observed patients' return visits at the outpatient clinic. Results suggest that more exposure to the ambulatory setting increases medical students' satisfaction with the psychiatry clerkship. Increased experience in the ambulatory setting is critical for medical student education. The present study demonstrates that substantial commitment of departmental resources and time are required to accomplish this goal.
Gay
Tamara L
TL
University of Michigan, Department of Psychiatry, Med Inn C418, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0840, USA. tlgay@umich.edu
Himle
Joseph A
JA
Riba
Michelle B
MB