Here are some of the things I’ve really enjoyed on my 2 days on this elective:
– Getting to look through the echocardiograms trying to spot the defects
– Trying to think through the physics of how these different diseases will progress
– Consistently positive physical exam findings
– Listening to murmurs and trying to figure out what is making the sound(s) (and what the sounds even are)
– Meeting these kids and their families and learning about their experience
– Trying to interpret ECGs
– No note writing for me, and the attendings’ and fellows’ notes seem minimal
Here are some of the things I’ve noticed don’t mesh as well with me:
– Physical exam and problems are limited to being relevant to cardiology, any other issue is deferred, at least in the clinical setting
– With the above, encounters feel abbreviated/ rushed
– The minimal note writing; I feel like I like being thorough and comprehensive when possible with my notes, but I’m sure this would likely be personal choice and one that may likely change as I progress in my career
nANIMOv 