Initiating the Consultation

"Ms Maringich?" I asked.

"Ms MarDENgich" she replied.

I blushed.

"Oh, sorry. My name is Andy, I'm a first year medical student. Your usual GP is currently busy with another patient and has asked me to take gather some information from you before he attends to you. Is that alright?"


"Sure"


I pointed towards a chair in the "consultation room".

She enter and sat down as I took a chair opposite her.

"So, what brings you into the clinic today?" I asked.

"Well... I've got this headache..." she started. "for a couple of days..."

She paused.

I tried to fill the void.

"Ah, you've got headaches for a few days. Anything else?"


"And I've been having some nausea."


Again, she paused, appearing shy.

"Okay, you've got some nausea and headaches for a few days. Anything else?"


She looked away, eyes cast down towards her left.

"Oh, this is a little embarrassing." I tensed. "I've been having some... err, constipation for a few days as well."


I let out a mental sigh of relief. Thank goodness it wasn't some women's business!

"That's okay. So you've got some constipation and nausea. Have I missed anything?"


"Yes, and the headaches too."


I apologised and resummarised her chief complaints.

"So, for today, we'll have a talk about your constipation, your nausea and your headaches. I'll then have to ask you a series of questions about your condition, then possibly conduct a brief physical examination before presenting this to the GP. Is that okay with you?" I asked, awkwardly, especially being a male and implying I was to physically examine a female.

She nodded.

I nodded, breathed a sigh of relief and  looked across to my right.

Two other medical students observing this interaction gave a quick clap and a supportive smile.

Feedback was given by the "patient" (a fellow medical student, whom was actually a guy playing the part of the female patient) and the two observers.

Some points I need to work on:
* I need to stop my hands from rolling over each other as it could be implied I was hurrying the patient up, which I unconsciously did when summarising the points.
* Make an effort to engage the patient in friendly conversation, finding out more about her and her life / family situation prior to the "formal" interview, especially with an indigenous patient.
* Think about what I should say beforehand, especially when negotiating the agenda.

However, feedback was positive in my body language, in making clear what was to happen, and in identifying myself as a medical student.

Slowly slowly :)