1. Were the objectives of the project fulfilled?

Yes,the objectives of my project had been fulfilled. I had 3 objectives in total which were to learn on how private clinic differs from government hospitals,to know what are the facilities that are offered in primary healthcare centre and finally to learn more on the right way to communicate with patient and treat them as a whole and  not just the disease.I believe that I was able to accomplish my target in fulfilling all my objectives successfully.

 

2. What have you enjoyed or liked the most about the project?

There were so many things that I enjoyed in this posting that I couldn’t specifically pinpoint to one.I loved the fact that I was welcomed happily into the working environment. Be it my site supervisor or even the staffs ,all of them made sure that I was comfortable and helped me out at times when I felt unsure of what to do. The doctor  always takes some time to explain to me about the particular procedure that he is going to carry out. And I loved the fact that the doctor always acknowledges my questions and  never once scolded or ignored my questions. Also, I would say that having the opportunity of  developing my communication skill by having interaction with the patients from various background were as well something that I enjoyed throughout this posting.Other than that, having the opportunity to learn more about procedures like phlebotomy made me to enjoy this posting even more.

 

3. What have you found challenging about this project? (any part of the project you found hard to do)

At the beginning of the posting, I was feeling so anxious to start conversing with the doctor and the staffs despite the fact that all of them in the clinic are friendly from the first day of elective posting . I was scared to even ask questions as I was worried if the question I am going to ask is going to  make the doctor to underestimate me. But as days pass by, I self motivated myself and started asking all the doubts that I was having to the doctor. And to my surprise the doctor never ones used any words that made me think that he’s judging me. And at the same juncture he was super kind in answering all the doubts I was having. And later when procedures like phlebotomy was done the doctor was explaining the steps thoroughly  and the do’s and don’ts in carrying out such procedures to me.Therefore,I would say I was able to overcome the insecurity I was having in the initial days of the posting.

4. What has really worked? (any part in the project that you thought worked well)

I believe that I have made tremendous improvement  on my communication skills. Being  a medical student, I have always focused mainly on one  patient complain and  never usually touched on other aspect of a patient be it on general well being of patient mentally and physically. Working in a private clinic for this 4 weeks taught me on how  vital is it to treat a patient as a whole. I learned to never rush the time with patients and have learned the importance of giving the time for the patient to express their feelings. I also felt privileged as I was able to perform certain procedures like simple dressing ,phlebotomy, measuring blood  pressure manually and many more. I felt happy as I was able to recall the knowledge from my clinical posting and was able to apply it during my posting and at the same time gaining new knowledge as well.

5. What can be improved in this project?

I felt that in general everything was well planned throughout my project. Honestly, I am feeling satisfied and happy with my decision of carrying out my elective posting in a private clinic. This one month is definitely not sufficient for me to learn everything about a private clinic.Maybe if the time period of this project was lengthened perhaps I would be able to learn more not only clinically but also more on the management side of the clinic .However, I have learned a lot this past one month and I am very thankful  about it.
Thank you.

 

The objectives of this project were fulfilled. I was able to understand the key concepts and principle of Chinese medicine, the field that I was always eager to learn more on. I was able to understand the development, the scientific theories of balance and interations of two opposite forces, 5 element theory and pharmacology of Chinese medicine.I was able to understand the similarities and differences of Chinese medicine and modern medicine and explore the therapeutic options for patients through the course.

 2. What have you enjoyed or liked the most about the project?

The enjoying part about the project is the ability to apply in real life. The concepts I have learnt is easy to understand and use, which makes it possible for me to share with my family members and relatives. The course is conducted completely online which means the time and place to do the course is very flexible, there is not much restriction and I can do it whenever I want.

 3. What have you found challenging about this project?

The challenging part of this project is that there is no real mentor guiding me through the course. The course is completely online and there is no one to consult and counter check in case of any misunderstanding of the topics. I would need to do my own research to supplement my understanding.

 

4. What has really worked? (any part in the project that you thought worked well)

The part in this project that works well is that I was able to relate what I learnt in this Chinese medicine course to modern medicine. I was able to appreciate their similarities as in pathophysiology, differences as in the biochemical properties of the herbs as compared to modern drugs, and most importantly how they supplement one another. For example, I was able to appreciate the use of modern and Chinese medicine in treating COVID-19 patients and through this course.

 
 5. What can be improved in this project?

 

I think I can apply to the Chinese medicine centre for placement after the online course to gain more exposure to the field. I can also learn the procedures such as acupuncture, cupping, taking pulse , prescribing herbs and others. I can also go to the library to look out reading materials on the area of Chinese medicine that I wish to learn more. 

Yes, the objectives of my project have been fulfilled. I have gained a better understanding on family medicine and the services it provides. I have also improved my communication skills when clerking patients, learnt how to advice patients on acute and chronic health problems and the refine my approach towards differentiated and undifferentiated cases in primary health care and patient-centred care. I am truly grateful that I was able to achieve these objectives as it has contributed towards my growth as a medical student. In addition to these objectives, I was given the opportunity to perform various procedures such as glucometer for glucose assessment, vaccination, painkiller administration, phlebotomy as well as corn removal which I was given the chance to perform this week. 

 

To say that I have enjoyed this whole project would be an understatement. If I were to choose the epitome of this project, it would be the consultation sessions. To be able to closely witness how the doctor alters the way she communicates with her patients in a way that is better understood by them is what distinguishes each and every doctor. It is vital to create a good rapport between the doctor and the patient in order to have an effective two-way communication to ensure that the message gets through. During the consultation periods, doctor would also explain to me on the certain diseases and important key points to remember as a medical student. She would also ask me critical thinking questions and involve me during the consultation with her patients which helps me in recalling what I have learnt from previous postings. It was also really nice to hear stories from her patients since most of her patients has been under her care for a long time.

 

I found the procedures to be challenging at first because I was unsure on the correct technique in doing so. Since I was performing it directly on the patient, I was worried of causing any form of harm to the patient. However, this fear did not stop my will to improve on my skills. Once I returned back home, I would familiarize the skills like phlebotomy and vaccination at home by practicing on a teddy bear. It does sound ridiculous but I was adamant on improving myself. Fortunately, the nurses also helped and taught me on the tips on performing the procedures and I am truly grateful for all the guidance I have received throughout my elective posting.

 

 4.      What has really worked? (any part in the project that you thought worked well)

I believe this posting has helped me in improving my confidence and communication skills. I have consistently taken history from multiple patients ranging from the paediatric age group till the geriatric group daily and have learnt many ways to approach different cases. I have also learnt to be a good listener since their history may provide clues in approaching the diagnosis. Plus, it also shows that we are acknowledging their concern. Medicine is not only about treating the disease, it’s about approaching the patient as a whole. I still believe that there is ample of room for improvement but throughout these 4 weeks, I am proud to see my progress.

 

I have learnt a lot from this project and I could not have been happier with the way it turned out to be. 4 weeks is definitely not enough and it would have been great if this project was longer. However, it was truly a great exposure as it has taught me various practical skills, resilience, independence, communication skill and has also ignited my passion in medicine. I am thankful that the elective posting is part of our syllabus as it gives us a chance to explore various fields and become better doctors in the future.