phooey

hmmm

Sunday, July 8, 2007

look what i found on the net!
http://www.ciao.co.uk/Medicine_Surgery__Review_5584749

A Fresher's Guide to Liverpool Medical School

General Standard of Tuition: Very high
Quality of Lectures: Good
Structure of Course: Excellent
Workload: Heavy

Advantages: You get to pretend to be a doctor, eventually be a doctor, get paid lots and party !
Disadvantages: You first get into debt, make mistakes, work hard, have to learn to cope . . .

Recommend to potential buyers: yes

I know I've called this review "A Fresher's Guide"... that's just because it's Fresher's week in a few days, and now that I'm getting stuck into my Second Year I thought it would be an appropriate time to explain what it's like joining the medical school at Liverpool University.I'm writing this review for:
~ People already part of the medical school; You already know what I'm going on about
~ Freshers just joining the medical school; Don't be scared, the fun and games is just starting!
~ People thinking of applying; This is the best med school ever! So come to Liverpool!
~ People who are just interested in what goes on; I hope I can hold your attention for as long as possible

WHERE TO LIVE:
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Ok, let's start at the beginning. I'm going to give what I think is some good advice. One of the reasons why I enjoyed my first year at Liverpool so much was because I was in a HALL OF RESIDENCE. At Liverpool University there are two main Halls, and some private ones in town as well. They have a really good community atmosphere and you meet loads of people including non-medics. I'm living with two of my friends from Halls last year.

The two main sites are a 20-25 minute bus ride out of town so a bus pass is really useful. Arriva do one for about £70-80 per term which may seem a lot but is good value for money in the long run. The two sites are GREENBANK and CARNATIC, each with their own atmospheres, quirks, facilities and perks. There is a sort of rivalry between them, but I am inclined to say Greenbank is better even though its more expensive, just because I was there and had the time of my life!

GREENBANK:The Greenbank site is made up of two Halls, Roscoe and Gladstone (R&G... smaller of the two and where I lived!) and Derby and Rathbone (D&R... larger and slightly different atmosphere). We had a reputation for better canteen food than Carnatic, mainly because each Hall has its own dining room, whereas Carnatic's multiple Halls share the same huge canteen. Each has washers and driers, its own bar, TV rooms etc. and most rooms have a sink as well. There are a few rooms that are self-catered, but I recommend catered accomodation because that way you can socialise at meal times and get the most from your time here.

CARNATIC:We were a bit cut off from the Carnatic Site which is a community unto itself, made up of 6 Halls all sharing dining facilities and one big bar. The halls are Dale Hall, McNair Hall, Salisbury Hall, Rankin Hall, Morton House and Lady Mountford House. I don't know much about them, but I know that I prefered the close-knit feel of Greenbank (as well as the greenery, park with ducks and ponds around which you could have BBQs in summer!). The choice, however, is yours. I won't try to bias you any further!

*More about all that in a more detailed review of the Uni I think... back to the medical school... !

PBL WHAT?
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At Liverpool, the medical course is based on PBL... a relatively modern learning approach that lets future doctors teach each other to teach themselves. Problem Based Learning works on the principle of SMALL GROUPS of 8 students discussing a fortnightly CASE SENARIO. These range in first year from a story of Mrs so-and-so who is complaining of diarrhoea, to Mr whosit-what who finds his foot feels cold because of bad circulation. Each 2 week module covers a different BODY SYSTEM and the focus is on what is NORMAL, although learning a bit about key diseases helps to keep the work interesting.

The process behind PBL is to take the scenario and highlight key words and phrases that the group then goes off and researches, meeting together three times a fortnight to discuss what they have found out. This way you learn WHERE to find resources, HOW to speak to others about WHAT you've found out, and WHY certain things are important. It's not just about anatomy and physiology, although they play a key part. You also learn about patient psychology, maths and statistics behind diseases, how society behaves... a HOLISTIC approach.

This works by dividing the LEARNING OBJECTIVES (questions to find out about) into 4 Catagories...
> Structure and Function (S&F):This is essentially all the anatomy and physiology you need to find out about. The first year concentrates on what is normal. Learning about the heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, brain, bones etc. is enhanced by using HARC (Human Anatomy Resource Centre) where you can see the organs in situ by looking at prosections (bodies that have been pre-dissected and preserved in formaldehyde) and state of the art plastic models. We don't do any dissection like the Classic-style courses at Cambridge and elsewhere.

> Individuals, Groups and Society (IGS):Because in the future you have contact with patients, you need to understand how a patient thinks and feels. You learn about the psychology of patients who fail to take their medication, need to change their lifestyle by stopping smoking etc, people who learn to cope with the pressures of looking after disabled family members etc. Looking at 'Groups' includes labelling, stigma and stereotyping. Meanwhile 'Society' looks at a bit of sociology and social class etc.

> Population Perspective (PP):There are lots of statistics, graphs, mathematical models etc. that come into looking at diseases in populations. This is called 'epidemiology' and the first year introduces you to the basics. I didn't do maths A-level, but still found that I was able to get my head round this stuff, even if I didn't enjoy it very much. It's useful to be able to apply the statistics because they pop up in loads of journals, so this part of the course really helps you understand what 'relative risk', 'incidence', 'prevalence' and 'Randomised Controlled Trials' are all about.

> Professional and Personal Development (PPD):This covers what it's like to be a health professional. You look at the career structures of people in the NHS, learn about guidelines of the General Medical Council (GMC), look at some ethics and even a brief look at the History of medicine. Attitudes to complementary therapy also pop up in first year.

EARLY PATIENT CONTACT:
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In the first year at Liverpool Medical School you will attend weekly sessions learning CLINICAL SKILLS. By the end of first year you will have learnt how to do the basic clinical examinations that will be built on over the next 4 years of medical school. It's a reassuring feeling to be able to take blood pressures, practise injecting plastic arms, taking blood from model veins, testing knee reflexes with a hammer etc. all that stuff that makes you feel like a proper doctor. This is what sets Liverpool and other PBL courses apart from more traditional courses which have 2 or 3 years of solid science before the patient contact begins.

OK, so you're ONLY testing out these new skills on people PRETENDING to be patients, but you will feel far better equipped when you get to second year and you spend several days a week in hospitals with the real patients. Skills vary from system examinations like cardiovascular, respiratory and joints, to doing Basic Life Support (CPR) and learning how to wash your hands properly.

These skills are tested at the end of the year in the Clinical Skills OSCE, an exam made up of 30 stations of 5 minutes where you are told to take a blood pressure, talk through the examination on a pregnant model, examine plastic breasts etc. It can be a bit terrifying at first with the time pressure and horror stories about how people have messed up embarrassingly in the past, but you are given plenty of practise. The clinical skills teaching staff are really friendly.

You also get an opportunity to go out into the COMMUNITY during the last term to watch GPs in action and practise history taking. It's debatable how effective/enjoyable/necessary this experience is. I give it a big thumbs down from my experience, but that's just me.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
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It may not be the most exciting thing in the world. Everyone can communicate! Well, that's the common thought. But how many doctors intimidate their patients, are arrogant and not understanding, never look you in the eye when speaking, fail to be sympathetic... all these negative things are why almost 50% of patients don't follow their doctor's advice or take their medication.

Fortnightly COMMUNICATION SKILLS classes, once again in SMALL GROUPS, teach you the importance of body language, putting information into a logical order in language than non-medical people can understand. You get to try out the skills of taking a history (asking questions about a patients illness) on actors pretending to be patients. Some of them are extras from Hollyoaks or Emmerdale, so I'm lead to believe!

This is also tested at the end of the year by getting information from, or giving information to SIMULATED PATIENTS played by actors. It's a bit like a roleplay and, once again, you are given plenty of practise.

WHAT THE HECK IS A PLENARY?
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Liverpool Medical School doesn't like having a lecture called a lecture. So does that mean that at Liverpool you're not actually taught anything at all? Yep, you are encouraged to go off and teach yourself. Controversial, but I think this approach does work. You could be in a traditional medical course attending lectures all day on the science and biochemistry, scribbling the notes, falling asleep etc. But Liverpool doesn't do LECTURES. Instead we have the optional PLENARY, a sort of gathering of medical students who can be bothered to get into the University for 9 am every morning.

I didn't make it in for EVERY plenary. They are not compulsory. They are designed a bit like a lecture, but to stimulate your interest in a certain topic. OK, they seemed a bit like a lecture to me, but they only touch the surface of a subject, giving you an overview of EMBRYOLOGY, or the basic principles of ISCHAEMIC HEART DISEASE. You then go off after an hour, fuelled in your quest to find out more about it all.

To be honest, you learn to distinguish which Plenary will be useful, which lecturers set the exam questions so you should turn up to their Plenaries, which Plenary will help with a particular LEARNING OBJECTIVE. You can go to every one, but sometimes you really DO need a lie in the-morning-after-the-night-before!

SPECIAL STUDY MODULE (SSM):
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Throughout the 5 years of the medical course, you get the opportunity to do 6 or so SSMs. These are usually a 4 week project where you get to research into a topic of your choice from a long list. If you don't get your any of your choices the first time round, then you'll definitely get one the next time. This project is usually a 3000 word written piece that is handed into the convenor (person in charge of the SSM) at the end of the 4 weeks.

You need to pass the SSM to pass the year. That may seem a bit daunting, but on the plus side this is the best way to learn what Specialities interest you. It helps you know what kind of doctor you want to be, or whether you'd rather look at medical journalism, research, or even History of Medicine in more depth. It's a really useful part of the course. Some people simply doss/don't work hard/go on holiday... I, myself, visited an art gallery one day. But the final grade of your SSMs (pass, merit or distinction) does effect the final grade of your medical degree at the end of the 5 years.

SOCIAL LIFE:
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It is no secret that Medics have one hell of a SOCIAL LIFE if they choose to join in with what's going on. You can have a look at my other reviews if you would like to get an idea. The LMSS is the Liverpool Medical Students Society and organises practically all of the main Medic social events. These include:
~ Initiation and welcoming party for the First Years
~ First Years' Bus Tour
~ The Annual Ball
~ The Summer Ball
~ The 120-something-th Annual Smoker
~ Artefacts (drama and music groups)
~ Regular meetings every Thursday
~ The Men's Dinner/Ladies' Pubcrawl
~ The Ladies' Dinner/Men's Pubcrawl
~ The Annual Play

*and loads of other parties and activities like greyhound racing and charity events!

The Traditional Liverpool Medics' Night Out would probably end up on a Thursday at the 'Raz' (read my review to find out why!) the affectionate nickname for The Blue Angel nightclub on Seel Street. It is a common saying that 'All Roads Lead to the Raz' just because it's true. Everyone eventually finds their way there at some point!

TUTOR-TUTEE:
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There is a scheme at Liverpool whereby every First Year gets paired up with a Second Year either individually or in a group. The Second Years are there to give advice, support, help where needed etc. They are also there, if you would like, to get First Years fed, drunk and merry before the TUTOR-TUTEE PARTY which is a great way to meet new people. There are around 300 people per year, so think of all the new friends to make!

The tutoring scheme would be really good if all Tutees kept in touch with their Tutors. I personally bump into my Tutors from time to time on a night out, and they buy me drinks or ask me how I'm getting on, which books to buy etc. There is no set book-list... you just sort of follow other people's advice as to which are the best ones. If you want to know my recommendations, then send me a message in my GB. I won't advertise the medical books here!

WHAT THERE IS TO LOOK FORWARD TO:
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The next four years of the course look at PATHOLOGY (what goes wrong with the body) and builds on the work of the First Year. You are in hospitals and GP practices, observing and taking histories. In the Third Year there is a chance to go on an ELECTIVE... a 5 week period in the summer holidays where you practise medicine either in the UK or practically anywhere in the world. The next 5 weeks is then up to you to spend as you wish, but sounds to me like quite a good holiday/chance to travel. Fourth Years sit their finals at the end of the year, leaving Fifth Year to do rotations in hospitals, following the House officer you will eventually replace when you qualify. Exciting stuff.

THE END:
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So this is the end of my long, but hopefully helpful introduction to what Medicine is like at Liverpool University. I think it's a good course, one of the best in the country. The teaching is GOOD, the social life is GREAT, and I've only got another 4 years of all this to go! To any new First Years, I'll probably see you in the Raz! Work hard, and play harder...

liverpool med sch really does sound very very exciting! I WANT TO GO!!
sighh. but i really dun noe where i'm going now. cos think my dad really really prefers monash and he said tt since he's paying the $ so he'll decide. hmm. haiz and my fren helped me ask her dad (some big shot administrator at nuh) if he'd prefer grads monash or liverpool and he said monash.
i suppose monash will be exciting as well but i cant find any such reviews to hype me abt it! hmm. monash interviewers/lecturers were nice though :) but monash starts in feb and i'm really tired of waiting to start to study. haiiii...
anyway, i do believe God does speak through parents so we'll see..

on another note, went for yf today. i really like the fellowshipping. :P
monday's precepts bible study is where i get my spiritual food!
wednesday's prayer meeting is where i get encouragement from others testimonies and also thank God for all he has done.
saturday's yf is for fellowshipping with other believers! :P
next sat we're going kite flying at west coast park! SO EXCITING!
anyone else wants to go? do let me know!

webo @ 12:45 AM