The Clinical Smart Book

First impressions are very important. The clinical rotations in medical school are very different from the M1/M2 years. You are being judged from day one; your clinical grade is highly dependent upon what the residents and attendings think of you. It is imperative to arrive on each new rotation asking the right patient questions, performing a relevant physical exam and presenting the patients you see in a very organized manner, from day one! The only way to show up for a rotation already knowing the right questions and pertinent physical exam attributes to look for, is to have already done the rotation or to get that information from someone who has rotated. If you have an upperclassmen friend who already did the rotation, it would be ideal to sit down and ask them the important features of that rotation. What you really need are the details; the specific questions, key physical exam findings and some guidance on what is important and what is not. If you had this information you could shine starting on day one. The Clinical Smart Book helps you do exactly that. Imagine on the first day of your M3 year volunteering to go see a consult, asking the right patient questions, performing the correct exam, then returning to the team and presenting in an organized succinct manner. You would rock! Or that is what the residents and attendings would think. The Clinical Smart Book was specifically written for medical students, organized by rotations with only the key H&P points, it helps you focus. Focus your history, focus your physical exam, focus your progress notes, and especially focus your presentations to the residents and attendings (this includes ICU patients yet another opportunity to shine). Basically, The Clinical Smart Book helps you look really smart in front of the residents and attendings. It fits in your pocket, so when you need it - at bedside, you have it. The successful students, who navigate the hurdles of the clinical rotations and do well, do so with a lot of help (traditionally from their upperclassmen friends). As with any journey, having the right guide can make all the difference!