>I find three sides of closely printed type and little space for me to
>write a sensible sequence of history, examination, diagnosis and plan
>stifles any thought process.
>
>--
>Helen D. Vecht: [log in to unmask]
>Edgware.
Although not in A&E the post I have just started on the medical rota
(oncology) has pro-formas with odd bits of space here and there -- fine
when they are routine admissions for chemo, but for the "acute"
admissions I find them a pain and I can't document history and findings
logically if I try use them -- often different aspects need emphasising.
I think that learning to express your thoughts and findings in a logical
way and tailoring them for the specific patient is perhaps the most
important skill to learn after communication in medicine (hence the
difference between a medical student and a registrar history).
I don't object to pro-formas at all if used appropriately but I am
concerned that logic skills would be acquired more slowly if we spend
our early years following someone else's logic rather than constructing
our own.
I introduced a new form for general medical clerking in my last job --
to make filing easier and loss of notes a rareity rather than
commonplace -- but these are very much an outline with headings only and
lots of open space.
Proformas: efficient and good practice but bad training??
--
Sam Waddy
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