Development of an Abbreviated Longitudinal Approach for Medical Student Learning in Perioperative Medicine: Teaching the Perioperative Surgical Home.

Abstract

Introduction: Leaders in anesthesiology are promoting increased involvement of anesthesiologists in perioperative medicine (POM). Academic leaders are calling for a corresponding increase in resident and medical student education in this evolving medical discipline. Formalized POM programs are new to most academic anesthesiology programs, and very little has been written about development of these programs for anesthesiology residents or medical students. We describe the creation of a longitudinal medical student clerkship in POM using established curriculum design methods with minimal capital resources.

Methods: This is a descriptive account of the process of clerkship design. It includes a qualitative analysis of participants' satisfaction with the novel clerkship.

Results: Design and implementation of a new, advanced medical student clerkship in POM using no additional capital resources was successful. Medical students indicated appreciation for the unique longitudinal design. Students also demonstrated understanding of the expanding role of anesthesiology in perioperative care of patients, a primary goal of the educational process.

Conclusions: The principles of the American Society of Anesthesiology's Perioperative Surgical Home can be taught systematically and successfully to advanced medical students with little additional expenditure of departmental resources.