OB/GYN

Even more than most rotations your experience will depend on your preceptors. As a general rule, at Carle you'll work longer hours and see more cases, at Provena you'll have more time to study. The out of town assignments (Danville, Bloomington) are unpopular because of the commute, but the schedule usually isn't so bad and some of those teachers are outstanding (see below). Some students have reported going through an entire rotation without touching a speculum, while others routinely did multiple daily pelvic exams on patients.

Since the clerkship changed the way it is run, you will get to experience both obstetrics and gynecology. Some preceptors do much more of one than the other. The shelf exam is equally divided between both, so if you are only seeing prenatal patients, read up on gynecology in your free time. There are a lot of specific protocols (for example, Pap smear/colposcopy/biopsy) that you need to know.

You may get a lot of surgery experience in this rotation (especially at Carle) or not. If you do this before you do surgery, make it clear that you have not done the surgery rotation and that you are open to any suggestions and guidance about conduct in the OR and what is expected of you.

Requirements
1. You will have to fill out an "orange book" (casebook / procedure log), which can be difficult depending on who you're following. Read: FILL OUT THE CASE BOOK AS YOU GO INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL THE END. It's much less of a time burden if you fill it in in the moments between appointments. Many preceptors will prefer you to have them sign all together, so notate where they should sign as you go or else you might forget where they should sign.

2. You will also be required to complete LOTS of practice questions provided by "UWise" on-line. This is a lot of work, but is excellent preparation for the shelf. Start early or you'll by cursing them at the end of the rotation.

3. You will be expected to submit 3 H&Ps, one to Dr. Fulfer and one to each of your preceptors. USE DR. WOZNIAK'S TEMPLATE since OB/GYN expects separate sections on OB Hx, Gyn Hx, and fetal condition. Dr. Fulfer is a harsh grader so write that one carefully.