This two-week course uses lectures, small group discussions, and readings to improve students' awareness and understanding of cost issues and means of cost reduction in health care systems. Analyses of patient cases and the actual charges generated are used to demonstrate application of principles of cost-effectiveness to the care of individual patients. The course is run by interdepartmental faculty involving clinical sites throughout the Medical Center, and is part of an institutional strategy to improve cost-effectiveness of care at Duke. The rotation has a strong didactic component, with less variability than other rotations. At times, students can rotate on two services for four weeks each or four serves for two weeks each plus CT surgery.
Most students get a good exposure to everything.
Recent revision of the Surgery curriculum offers increased emphasis on development of practical skills for the non-surgeon such as suturing and evaluation of the acute abdomen. Students have suggested carrying around photocopied sections of Dr. Sabiston's textbook, allowing you to grab the chance to read between surgeries.