For the student doing an Elective Experience, call will be optional. In months when the Oncology Inpatient Service attending is board-certified only in oncology, consults for oncologic problems will be staffed by the Oncology Inpatient Service attending and consults for hematologic problems will be staffed by the Hematology Inpatient Service attending. In months when the Oncology Inpatient Service attending is board-certified in both oncology and hematology, that attending will staff all consults. The student reviews the chart, evaluates the patient, reviews appropriate labs, reviews relevant background literature forms a differential diagnosis and a tentative set of recommendations, writes the consult report, and presents the case to the attending during consult rounds. Consult rounding times and durations are highly flexible to accommodate the schedules of the team members and the amount of activity on the service.
Students have no night or weekend duties.
At the present time, clinic logistics limit our ability to routinely offer students the option of participating in these clinics. Oncology Consult service are expected to participate in the VA clinic. In an average clinic, the student will see 2-3 patients. The student is required to acknowledge in writing that this meeting took place. Similarly, at the end of each rotation, the student is required to meet privately with the attending physician to have the opportunity to personally review the attending's written evaluation of the student's performance.