ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: First-year students negotiate new professional culture with a certain amount of excitement and anxiety. There are different approaches for offering guidance. In this study, the authors present Weill Cornell Medical College's experience with an advising program for first- and second-year students. METHODS: Fifty faculty advisors were each assigned 1-3 first-year students who they would follow for 2 years. The responsibilities were outlined to both faculty and students. The program was evaluated using an anonymous questionnaire. RESULTS: For the two classes surveyed (2011 and 2012), most students met their advisors once. For both classes, the most frequently discussed issues were general adjustment to medical school, academic life, and the professional life of the advisor. Summer research and career opportunities were also discussed. Most students were satisfied with the advising program. Satisfaction increased with an increase in visits. Most students who did not meet their advisors established an advisor relationship on their own. CONCLUSIONS: An advising program was established at Weill Cornell Medical College that satisfied most of the students. It is important to evaluate its format regularly, from both student and advisor perspectives, in order to ensure its continued success.
Subject(s)
Education, Medical, Undergraduate , Mentors , Program Development , Students, Medical , Faculty, Medical , Female , Humans , Male , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
We compared the rates of exposure to blood in the operating room among third-year medical students during 2005-2006 with the rates reported in a study completed at the same institution during 1990-1991. The number of medical students exposed to blood decreased from 66 (68%) of 97 students during 1990-1991 to 8 (11%) of 75 students during 2005-2006 (P<.001).
Subject(s)
Blood-Borne Pathogens , Data Collection , Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional , Occupational Exposure/statistics & numerical data , Students, Medical , Education, Medical, Undergraduate , Humans , Needlestick Injuries/epidemiology , Operating RoomsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Serratia marcescens can cause serious infections in patients in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), including sepsis, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and conjunctivitis. We report the utility of genetic fingerprinting to identify, investigate, and control two distinct outbreaks of S. marcescens. DESIGN: An epidemiologic investigation was performed to control two clusters of S. marcescens infections and to determine possible routes of transmission. Molecular typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis determined the relatedness of S. marcescens strains recovered from neonates, the environment, and the hands of healthcare workers (HCWs). SETTING: Two geographically distinct level III-IV NICUs (NICU A and NICU B) in two university-affiliated teaching hospitals in New York City. RESULTS: In NICU A, one major clone, "F," was detected among isolates recovered from four neonates and the hands of one HCW. A second predominant clone, "A," was recovered from four sink drains and one rectal surveillance culture from an asymptomatic neonate. In NICU B, four neonates were infected with clone "D," and three sink drains harbored clone "H." The attributable mortality rate from bloodstream infections was 60% (3 of 5 infants). The antimicrobial susceptibilities of clone F strains varied for amikacin, cefepime, and piperacillin/tazobactam. CONCLUSIONS: S. marcescens causes significant morbidity and mortality in preterm neonates. Cross-transmission via transient hand carriage of a HCW appeared to be the probable route of transmission in NICU A. Sinks did not harbor the outbreak strains. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns did not prove to be an accurate predictor of strain relatedness for S. marcescens.
Subject(s)
Cross Infection/epidemiology , Cross Infection/genetics , DNA Fingerprinting , Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control , Infant, Premature , Serratia Infections/epidemiology , Serratia Infections/genetics , Serratia marcescens/genetics , Cross Infection/prevention & control , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Intensive Care Units, Neonatal , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Serratia Infections/prevention & control , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Sixty-four percent of medical residents unimmunized by the Occupational Health Service were immunized elsewhere. Those unvaccinated lacked time to comply. An immune staff is critical to prevent transmission to high-risk patients and limit absenteeism. The hospital is implementing a program to deliver medical care to the house staff.