One of many goals for the summer, other than generate publishable data, is to update this wonderful outlet. It has been a wild year. Recently I heard a statement that encapsulates my experience thus far precisely: “stick your nose in a book, when you look up, you’re done.”

One of the positive things about being in medical school now as opposed to 30 years ago is that there is an increased focus on physical exams. With the genesis of the OSCE, programs are squeezing in patient contact, albeit mainly with standardized patients, in the first year. This is great right, the reason most students wanted to go to medical school: to see real live people? Okay maybe not, but that’s another topic. So I get to put on a white coat, hang a stethoscope around my neck, knock on the door, enter and perform a myriad of physical exams. The upshot is, we’re being trained to conduct a focused physical exam and or history in 6 minutes! That’s right our little exam taking asses get it drilled into us to finish the exam, hit all the components, under time.

What’s the biggest patient’s complaint about their doctor? Duh, that medical care costs too much! After that, it’s that the doctor doesn’t take enough time to listen. I am here to tell you that no matter who says differently, medical schools train doctors to be expeditious, curt, quick, speedy, prompt, alacritous…too damn fast.