CINCINNATI -- The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine is putting its newest residents through the paces in order to make sure patients get the best possible care. To do so, they use the "BRACK," which stands for Baseline Resident Assessment of Clinical Knowledge.
According to the college, it’s all about building a better doctor. Physicians who’ve made the rounds share their experiences with the newest residents at UC.
Preparing to meet patient for the first time in July, the future doctors review basic skills like getting an IV going, drawing blood, sutures, and intubation. That refresher is just one part of "The BRACK."
The one-of-a-kind program also runs these new doctors through eight different clinical case scenarios with people trained to play the role of patient. They test the residents’ ability to take a medical history, conduct an exam and come up with a diagnosis.
“It is about the science of medicine, but it’s also about the art of communication,” said Amy Bunger, the UC Medical Center head of graduate medical education.
The idea is to give residents a chance to take their knowledge and act on it in a dry run.
“The anxiety level goes down, you have simulated patients and you know you have the skills when you see real people,” said emergency medicine resident Edmond Irankunda.
