Save 10% Off Kaplan Step 2 CK Prep Now!

As some of you third and fourth years gear up to take USMLE Step 2 CK, it is a great idea to both study from a review book like USMLE Step 2 Secrets, 3e or First Aid for the USMLE Step 2 CK, Eighth Edition (First Aid USMLE). However, it is equally important to actively utilize a qbank such as the ones offered by USMLEWorld or Kaplan Step 2 CK Qbank.

This would have worked before the USMLE became computerized!

If you purchase the Kaplan Qbank for Step 2 CK by September 30, 2012, use this link to save 10% on your purchase: USMLE- Step 2 CK Qbank

 Good luck! You're almost there!

The Do's And Don'ts For Medical School Admissions

While this blog is typically targeted at students already in medical school, many readers have questions about how to get into medical school. This guest post by Carey discusses a few tips for getting past that medical school admissions committee:

When it comes time to decide what you want to do with your life, things are hard enough. Maybe you have already decided you want to be a doctor and you want to try your hand at getting into medical school. If this is the case, there are many things you need to prepare yourself for before getting into medical school. Here are so do's and do nots for getting into medical school.

The Do's

Study Hard
If you want to get to the first step for getting into medical school, which is the interview, you will need to study hard and ensure your grades and GPA are up to par. Your best bet is to have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. You will also need a MCAT score of more than 30 to get many interviews. This is your future so you will want to do whatever it takes to get into the school of your choice.

Gain Some Experience
Do some volunteering at your local hospital to gain some experience. Medical schools like potential students who have tried working in a hospital and still want to go further with getting a medical degree. Volunteering at a hospital or doing something medical related will ensure you stand out from other applicants, and in a good way.

Extracurricular Activites
Choose an extracurricular activity and stick with it for a while. Make sure it is something you enjoy doing. Medical schools like to see that you are committed and will stay with something for a long time. This will not only make you look good but will help you receive a leadership position that you could be happy with.

Get Involved
Get involved with whatever you can. Whether it is sports, research, the arts or helping out with the community. Doing one of these things will surely get you some points with the admissions people.

Harvard Medical School

The Do Nots


Major in Pre-Med Only
Do not just major in one thing when in pre-med. Just because you are a pre-med student doesn't mean you need to only major in medical or science related classes. Try French or journalism as a minor at least. This will show you are interested in many other things as well.

Forget to Breathe
Don't forget to breathe. Don't study too much or you will get burnt out fast. Medical schools like to see well rounded and organized people. You don't have to hit the books too hard, just enough to get the interview.

Stress
Don't stress yourself and make yourself sick. Yes, there are a lot of medical school applicants wanting a chance just as much as you do but there is no need to make yourself sick with worrying about not getting in right away. If you don't get in to be a doctor, why not try for a nursing degree, physician assistant or a nurse practitioner?

You can do it! Take these tips and advice and make yourself stand out from the rest of the crowd applying for medical school.


Carey has been writing professionally for many years now. She started out small on the freelance writing ladder and has climbed her way to the top with bestessay.com. 

How To Become A Plastic Surgeon

Any interest in Plastic Surgery as a specialty? Check out this guest post by Samantha Ferry about the road ahead: 

Medicine is a grueling and incredibly competitive field and, within the field, plastic surgery is among the most competitive routes one can take. Therefore, first and foremost, make sure that you are committed and incredibly passionate before venturing out on the path of pursuing a career in plastic surgery.

Once in college you’ll have to get a bachelor's degree in a premedical major – think biology or chemistry. You must complete all of the required courses for medical school while an undergraduate.

Next, take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and connect with a counselor to narrow down a list of realistic medical schools to apply to. The applications to get into medical school are typically sent out during the senior year of college. Try to look for a school with a plastic surgery residency program as it will make subsequent steps that include specialization considerably easier.

Once in medical school you must graduate with a four-year doctor of medicine (MD) degree (you undergo a third year clinical rotation before choosing a specialty). Once you have your MD degree in tow, you must go through a three-year surgical residency training. Even if you think you’re 100 percent sure that plastic surgery is where your heart lies, it’s a good idea to research the field through the American Board of Plastic Surgery and make sure to do a rotation or externship with a plastic surgeon. These steps will allow you to learn the rules, regulations and the everyday role of a plastic surgeon.

During residency is when you will choose a specialty after completing the general surgery training (think hand surgery, aesthetic surgery). Once your residency is completed, you will need certification with the American Board of Plastic Surgery. However it’s important to note that while the American Board of Plastic Surgery is the oldest certifying body, there are others including the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.

Some doctors opt to pursue a fellowship after completing their residency before officially beginning their plastic surgery career.

It’s recommended that you seek out job opportunities early on in the last or next to last year of your plastic surgery residency. You’ll also want to remember to network during all of the training as it is key in securing employment opportunities in this very crowded and competitive field. In the same vein you’ll want to attend as many conferences as possible.


Samantha Ferry is a freelancer for AboutPlasticSurgery.com and other medical and health lifestyle websites.

Nurse Practitioner Vs. Physician Assistant: What Should You Choose?

The allied health professions have rapidly proliferated in the last two decades. Making sense of all the variations on a mid-level provider takes some effort. This guest post from Atlanta Home Care helps shed some light on the matter: 

Differentiating between the two professions poses to be a confusion among people but both the professions- Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant require a formal degree of education and are about taking care of the ill and delivering healthcare facilities to the ones in need. These two sorts of professions are somewhat different but there are many similarities. This article will help you understand the two professions in detail and consequently will clear out the confusion.

It is important to understand the real differences between a Nurse Practitioner and a Physician Assistant. At first glance, they may appear to be the same but doctors and those in the field of medicine can tell you exactly what the difference between the two professions is.

There is a difference between a registered nurse and a nurse practitioner. A nurse practitioner has to be a registered nurse. A nurse practitioner is more experienced and academically advanced than a registered nurse is. A registered nurse becomes a nurse practitioner when they advance from a bachelor’s level education to a Master’s degree qualification.

The work and duties of a Physician assistant will encompass taking care of the patients, diagnosing their problems and providing them with health care under the supervision of a registered physician. Physician assistants can also make prescriptions but only under the guidance and help of the qualified physicians. The final authority lies with the qualified physician. Where as a Nurse practitioner has greater independence and carries out his tasks in providing healthcare and assistance independently.

Now considering the issue of salaries and pays, a nurse practitioner is more qualified than a Physician assistant and consequently earns more money than a Physician assistant, as it is the case in almost every line of work. But in many states it is only a matter of experience. Many states will fix salaries according to the number of years that they have practiced and served.

The Physician assistant has to work in sync with the qualified physician therefore their number of working hours is very closely related to the number of working hours of a physician. However the nurse practitioners are more autonomous in that case. Since they work solo, they decide when and for how long they work. As they work independently they rule their own professional lives and routine.

One major difference in the practice of Nurse practitioners and physician assistants is that Physician assistant offers almost the same services as a qualified physician, which includes treatment and diagnosis where as a nurse practitioner’s job is only limited to basic health care and prescription.

One other difference is that physician assistants are responsible for the qualified physician’s duties as well as their own whereas the nurse practitioner is responsible only for himself.

Keeping the above points in mind, it all depends on what you can manage and who you want to be. Both of these options are excellent considering the help you will be to the sick people. But at the end of the day it boils down to what you want.

Atlanta Home Care can provide you with expert and licensed care takers and nurses who would be extremely gentle, kind and amiable. Our nurses are certified by the Georgian state and provide services for all including senior citizens.

Education Path for Doctors Without Borders

You may have heard of Doctors Without Borders, but do you know how it started or how you can participate? Find out all about it and more in this guest post by Melissa Miller:

History

The international medical humanitarian organization was created by French doctors and journalists in 1971 in response to a blockade in the Nigerian Civil War. France was the only major country that supported the newly independent county whose residents were suffering from the blockade. The humanitarian crisis and lack of support from the outside world highlighted a need for a medical organization that would operate without political or religious restraint.

“Every year, Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provides emergency medical care to millions of people caught in crises in more than 60 countries around the world. MSF provides assistance when catastrophic events — such as armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, or natural disasters — overwhelm local health systems. MSF also assists people who face discrimination or neglect from their local health systems or when populations are otherwise excluded from health care.” –Doctors Without Borders Website.

There are a variety of positions that are described as urgently needed – OBGYN’s and surgeons being the most in-demand. For general physicians, however, there are a few specialties that the organization considers highly valuable.

French

Because Doctors Without Borders is a French organization (Médecins Sans Frontières) speaking French is a major asset to applicants who hope to work with the program.

Tropical Medicine
The field of Tropical Medicine focuses on the health problems of tropical and subtropical regions. Many of these health problems were once endemic in areas of colder climates, but have been controlled or eliminated as those areas have become more developed.

Poor housing, diet, sanitation and personal hygiene cause these infections to remain endemic in tropical areas, making culture, not climate, the factor that perpetuates these diseases. Thus, the field of medicine is also known as “Geographic Medicine” or “Third World Medicine.” Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, is currently the only American school of Tropical Medicine. The school offers undergraduate degree in Public Health, and there are also various specialty fields in the Master’s and Doctoral degrees, one of which is Tropical Medicine.

Many medical schools, like West Virginia University and Johns Hopkins, also offer courses in Tropical Medicine.

HIV/AIDS Specialists
The University of California at San Francisco currently has the highest rank AIDs research institute in the country.  To become an HIV specialist as certified by the American Academy of HIV medicine, you must have completed your residency and must have clinically managed at least 20 HIV patients within 2 years. You must also “demonstrate continuous professional development” through education and re-certification. The paths to satisfying the developmental component will depend on your medical degree.


This guest post is provided by Melissa Miller. She aims to help you understand the challenges and benefits involved in earning an online associates degree, and show you a way through the often confusing process. She welcomes questions and suggestions at melissamiller831@gmail.com

What Is Remote Patient Monitoring?

Perhaps you have heard the phrase 'remote patient monitoring.' Most likely though, you - like me - was not sure exactly what it meant. Laira Davidson joins us today to explain what remote patient monitoring entails: 

Remote Patient Monitoring and Its Impending Effects on the US Healthcare Systems

The business of home monitoring is expected to change the face of American healthcare. From sleep patterns to cardiac events, physicians can monitor patient vitals remotely. By the end of 2011, physicians were remotely monitoring the health of 2.2 million patients around the world according to Berg Insight. From 2010 to 2016, the number is expected to grow to 4.9 million patients. The market for telemonitoring is colossal.

Telemonitoring equipment is reducing the cost of caring for patients with diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease or congestive heart failure. Remote patient monitoring equipment is projected to reach an 18 percent “compound annual growth rate” during this same time period. Experts also expect the market to grow from $7.1 billion in 2010 to $22.2 billion by 2015.

This near exponential increase should have a positive effect on the U.S. healthcare system. As the healthcare system becomes more efficient, physicians will provide better and more personalized care to home-bound patients. Comprehensive data cannot be captured without a lengthy hospital stay that many patients cannot afford. Remote patient monitoring makes it easier to capture data and identify environmental-specific triggers that may not occur in the hospital. This is great advancement for healthcare.

What is Remote Patient Monitoring and How Does It Work?

Remote patient monitoring allows physicians to monitor patient vitals while they are in their homes. Patients must obtain the equipment in their homes for home monitoring. The data captured will be updated in real-time with a physician. A landline connection, cellular network or the Internet is required to complete the data transfer. Many physicians are currently monitoring sleep patterns and administering sleep therapy through remote patient monitoring. Cardiac rhythm management can also be achieved with remote patient monitoring equipment.

Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring

Reduced Costs. Patient costs are reduced because they are not paying for expensive hospital rooms for this type of monitoring. Instead, patients are in the comfort of their own home with their monitoring equipment. While saving money, physicians can avoid admitting patients for long periods of time for monitoring who simply cannot afford the expense. Physicians reduce losses associated with non-paying patients. The concept helps both physicians and patients save.

More Patient Involvement. With at-home monitoring, patients play an active role in their healthcare. Physicians can deliver more accurate diagnosis and treatment with extensive at-home monitoring. Remote patient monitoring will yield better care.

Potential Challenges with Remote Patient Monitoring
Lack of Coverage. Remote patient monitoring services and equipment are not fully covered by insurance providers. The coverage is very limited. As the idea becomes more widely accepted, health insurance coverage may increase.

Medical-Loss Ratio. While the medical-loss ratio does not directly affect remote patient monitoring, it could have an indirect effect. Physicians, under this regulation, are required to spend at least 85 percent of the savings on activities that improve the quality of health care and on medical benefits. Given this requirement, physicians may have an extra incentive to re-invest the money collected on premiums into adopting remote patient monitoring and also advanced equipment related to the migration.

Physicians who are resistant to change may not view this as an added benefit and may not view this as a “value-add” in their practices. In the past, physicians have used the savings on implementing new International Classification of Diseases codes (ICD-10) or on health information technology such as electronic health records (EHRs) and electronic medical records (EMRs). If physicians will also invest in remote patient monitoring, patients will benefit from the savings also.

While there are many implications for improvement, there are likely to be some other challenges as the integration and adoption occurs. Remote patient monitoring is expected to have a significant impact on the United States healthcare system.

This article was written by Laira J. Davidson for PETAP, your guide to finding accredited online nursing schools.

Books For Fourth Year Medical Students

You see the title and think "Books for fourth years? Do MS4s even show up to class?" Haha, well depending on where you are for med school, there may still be significant rotations to take during the fourth year. Books for those rotations are addressed in the books for MS3s post. However, there are two types of books fourth years should consider: board exam prep books and residency planning books.

Confused again about why board exam prep is listed here? Step 1 is in the rearview mirror, and maybe Step 2 CS/CK as well. However, all US medical graduates will have to take Step 3 at some point and trust me: sooner is much, much better than later. USMLE Step 3 is a comprehensive exam that covers all the same topics as Step 1 and 2, but with more clinical applications. Additionally, the exam is longer, requiring two separate days to complete.

To be honest, any Step 3 prep book should be fine. If you liked the style of First Aid for USMLE Step 1, then stick with First Aid for Step 3. The real key to success here is to do questions from a qbank, like Kaplan's USMLE Qbank. As they say, practice makes perfect. However, do not fall into the trap of "Two months, two weeks, two pencils (or two days)" as a schedule for Step 3 prep: the exam is as tough as Step 1 and Step 2. If you do not take it seriously and do not study, you will fail. I repeat: you will fail. While the test is not as critical as Step 1, it is *not* a blow-off exam.

Okay, that got intense - on a lighter note, the second topic is of more interest to your future career. As you prepare for interviews, you should have a good idea of what your field is about and what you need to do to prepare. If you are still figuring out what to apply for, Iverson will help narrow that down as well.

   

While the Iserson book is somewhat dated, it is still an excellent resource to refer to as you go through the process, as Iserson provides a good system for comparing programs to each other on the interview trail. Additionally, this site had a series of posts in the past dealing with residency interviews: Residency Interviews Tips, Parts 1 - 5. The posts are quick easy reads with the intent of providing high-yield information for interviewees.

 Enjoy fourth year! Good luck with residency applications!


Updated 2015-12-25

The Highest Demand Health Professions

With all of the recent debate about the growth of health care as a share of the U.S. GDP, one surely wonders what is driving all this growth. Guest poster Justin Davis sheds light on sub-sectors of healthcare that are growing fastest: 

When you’re choosing a program of study, it only makes sense to focus on an area that is experiencing growth. You don’t want to spend several years and thousands of dollars studying something that will only land you in the unemployment line.

One area that’s almost guaranteed to get you a job is healthcare. Healthcare, encompassing everything from doctors all the way down to office support, is one of the largest employers in the U.S., and shows no signs of slowing down. Consider going into one of these areas of healthcare to virtually guarantee that you’ll always have a job.

Registered Nurse

While certain professionals will always be in demand, there is one career that eclipses them all: Registered Nurses. In the coming years, there will be a greater need for registered nurses more than any other type of professional, thanks to our aging population – Baby Boomers, the largest generation in American history, are nearing retirement age and increasing their usage of healthcare services. The following generations are also having children now, further taxing the healthcare system. As a result, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be more than half a million new nursing positions opening up over the next four or five years – and that’s not even counting the thousands of positions that will open up when current nurses retire.

Landing one of these coveted positions may require relocating, though, as certain areas of the country have nurse shortages, while others are well-staffed. The rewards, though, are great. In addition to the satisfaction of caring for people, on average, RN’s earn $31 per hour; specialized nurses working in critical care areas can more than $40 per hour. Most RN jobs are in hospitals, but you can also find work in physician offices, outpatient clinics, nursing homes home healthcare agencies, and in healthcare related businesses, like insurance companies. In some cases, RNs can also climb the career ladder, landing administrative positions after serving in a patient care for a number of years.

Home Health Aide

Home health aides provide care to those who are house bound, or living with a chronic illness and need regular care. Aides visit these patients at home each day to check vital signs, administer medication, help with personal care and household tasks, and basically monitor patients for changes or conditions that might require further evaluation or treatment. The vast majority of patients are either elderly or disabled, and the job requires a great deal of patience, sensitivity and the ability to work independently. Home health aides are often employed by hospitals or health systems, or private agencies – and the number of job opportunities is expected to grow significantly over the next few years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that nearly 400,000 new jobs in this field will be created in over the next four years – meaning that there is plenty of room for trained professionals. However, the pay is relatively low for this work, meaning that there is a great deal of turnover.

Healthcare Administration

Not all jobs in healthcare require direct patient care. In hospitals, health systems, insurance companies and government agencies, there is a need for healthcare administrators. Administrators are the backbone of the healthcare industry, developing the policies and procedures that govern the day-to-day operation of the facility, and managing the often complex infrastructure of finances and personnel involved with running a healthcare entity. Administrators develop strategies for growth, answering the ever increasing demands placed on the system, and advocate for quality healthcare for everyone.

While many healthcare administrators have a background in patient care, the majority come from a business background. Healthcare finance in particular is complex, requiring in-depth knowledge of financial and accounting concepts. And because of ongoing changes in the healthcare industry, there is a growing need for experienced administrators – the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects growth of 9-17 percent over the next five years.

Of course, there are plenty of other areas of healthcare that are showing growth as well. Demand for medical assistants, medical records technicians, pharmacy technicians and medical secretaries and billing professionals is also growing – all fields that offer well-paying jobs and decent wages. So consider these jobs when you’re planning your education and career track – even in challenging economic times, a degree like MSN nursing or an MPH degree will enable you be to count on having work.

This article was written by Justin Davis who is currently working towards a master’s degree. Justin loves to write and believes strongly in the importance of higher education.

The Medical School Olympics

As we all enjoy watching the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, I am struck by the parallels between various sports and aspects of medical school. Just as the athletes take four years of their life going for gold, we spend four years of our lives, striving for that MD (or DO or DDS). Many of the characteristics that make for a champion also help forge a successful future physician. How do the sports and the rotations stack up?

The 400 Meter Hurdles
In medical school, these are the first two years, the basic sciences. Why? Well, you sprint for a few weeks, learning a wide swath of material, only to face a hurdle at the end: the test or shelf exam. Like the sport, it is important to pace yourself and most importantly clear those hurdles. Especially as a first year medical student, learning how to learn medical knowledge may be the key thing to take away from these courses rather than any particular fact or figure.

The 10,000 Meter Run
Middle distance running does not have the glamour of the 100 meter dash or the sheer respect one must have for a marathon. Similarly, USMLE Step 1 feels like an interminable slog yet it is something every MD goes through. Like the 10k, studying for Step 1 is all about pacing. You want to start strong but steady through the first 9k, saving up for that last 1k when it turns into a sprint. Step 1 works the same way: that last week and test day are an all-out burst of knowledge, unloading everything you learned in the two years before.

The Decathlon
The clinical years really stretch a medical student in all kinds of directions, much like the decathlon. You're delivering babies, treating patients with cancer and heart attacks, and participating in code situations. You have to be versatile and quick to adapt. Much like the decathlon, it's not important that you "win" every race - you do not have to be the best medical student in surgery and pediatrics and neurology. What matters is performing at a high level in each specialty. A decathlete can often win the decathlon without winning any one of the 10 events. Similarly, focus on performing at a high level and maintaining that momentum moreso than being the best at any one area.

The Long Jump
Making the move from medical school to internship and residency is a big deal. You go from being the student in the corner, barely acknowledged at times, to "Doctor, the patient's potassium is 4.5 - what do you want to do? Doctor, the ultrasound tech thinks there may be an ectopic, what do we do? Doctor, the x-ray shows a possible tension pneumo?" So many decisions! Many of which you will be ill-equipped for on Day 1. But never fear - like the long jump, you push off from the end of the runway of medical school and have faith that your preparation will carry you to where you need to be.

Bob Beamon, one of the greatest long jumpers ever, setting the world record in Mexico City 1968

The Marathon
The epitome of the Olympic Games is the marathon. The 26.2 miles are a true test of human endurance and the human spirit. The road past medical school is much the same way - it is important to maintain the momentum you built in medical school. As cliche as it sounds, being a good physician really is about lifelong learning.

What do you think? Do these sports match up with these phases of medical school? No matter where you are in your education, hopefully you can take some time away from medicine and enjoy London 2012!

Updated 2015-12-25

How the Australian Healthcare System Can Help American Health Care

Given all the attention given to the healthcare in the U.S., ever wonder how other countries manage to keep their citizens happy and healthy? This guest post from Lena Paul offers a glimpse at how Australia tackles the situation:

Universal healthcare is often viewed as a hallmark of western civilization, save in the United States where it is only just now getting a very rocky beginning that is under threat by the oncoming election, despite the fact that comparisons between America and other countries definitely puts America off the worst. In America, it's assumed that people use employer-subsidized healthcare, private insurance and Medicare, with no universal medical record, lots of lawsuits and a disparity of lawsuits. Somehow, with all these lacks, Americans still manage to spend more on health care than anyone else does while still being ranked very low by WHO (World Health Organization). Sheesh! But other western nations are different and a good comparison is Australia. This is because certain aspects of the Australian system are very similar to the traditional American setting while being different in fundamental ways.
The core of Australian healthcare isn't too terribly different from the American system. It relies on a combination of employer and public funding; with 8.8% of the GDP spend on healthcare (compared to 15.3% in 2007 in America, before the advent of 'ObamaCare'). About two-thirds of this spending is public and the rest is private. So what accounts for the lower level of spending?

Largely, a better level of health but also a better funded healthcare system which takes advantage of slightly higher taxes and better organization. There is a lower rate of mortality from diseases, it's easier to get to a doctor, wait times for elective surgeries are the same and, one of the most important points, in Australia, people are more likely to go to the doctor or get prescription drugs because it costs less. The big difference is hospital wait times, which can be extremely long, particularly for elective surgeries or a sudden need.

Another major aspect is how the universal healthcare is slanted. Medicare in Australia provides basic coverage to citizens, free treatment in public hospitals and free or covered treatments. Dental, optho and mental health are covered as are services for the disabled and seniors. If you go to a private hospital, you'll have to pay more of your bill, but that's the price you pay for privacy (and speed of getting in). Subsidized prescription drugs and a safety net for the poor round out the list, plus you can choose your doctor or hospital. Neat! People get a choice of whether to go for public care and risk waiting longer or pay for private care and get faster service, at a cost. Many people opt for both over the course of their lives, depending on circumstances.

How is this funded? As always, your tax dollars at work; income tax is about 1.5% higher in Australia, plus there are some out of pocket/cost sharing expenses, private company funding and higher taxes on those with cash to spend who don't purchase private insurance.

So why is the Australian health care system a beneficial case study for Americans to consider? This two tier system in Australia would be relatively easy to implement. America already has a strong infrastructure in place for private healthcare and so adding a greater emphasis on public healthcare could blend in well. Universal coverage could let people get the basics they need when they need it while the ability to purchase more comprehensive private coverage would be offered.

Australia, like America, has a mixed public-private funding system for its universal healthcare coverage. Unlike America, it has a top of the line care record and the costs are less. There are some ways in which Americans can tweak this to fit their needs, but overall, the Australian system bears some closer observation, particularly as ObamaCare falls into threat and heavy criticism. Healthcare should be incredibly important to everyone and for that reason, it's important to take a hard look at it and see what other people in the world are doing and how their ways can be implemented best.

Lena Paul is a medical school graduate who is an enthusiastic blogger and holds an editorial position in Prepgenie, a test prep provider that offers exam preparation courses for UKCAT, GAMSAT, PCAT and UMAT.