VA+Hospital

=General Information= The VA serves mostly older men with multiple medical problems. The medicine clerkship director joked, "we don't expect you to see all of the problems on the competency list during your rotation, unless you're at the VA where you'll see one patient with all of them." She wasn't far off. Medical students have a lot of autonomy, and are typically expected to see patients individually and write a note, which will be addended by the resident and become part of the patient's actual record (unlike University Hospital and Denver Health), so your notes matter. It is also one of the main teaching hospitals for the UCH residency programs, so there will be a lot of residents to help you if you need it. Badging is a complicated and painful process, but if you are offered a PIV badge go for it. You will have to submit to a full federal background check which involves providing three personal references, address history and work history for the past 5 years with contacts who knew you at each of those locations. However, the process clears you for 15 years just in case your residency has you at a VA hospital, and you can use the badge at the airport to go through the military line. = = =Rotations= Surgery: There are some great teaching attendings at the VA who are dedicated to helping you learn. There are great conferences a couple days of week for educational purposes that are very helpful. That said, you may have to go out of your way to ask a lot of questions or follow up on educational opportunities. It is slower paced than places like Denver Health or University, and you can expect to do 2-4 surgeries a day M/W/F and clinic + minor procedures on T/Th. The hours are typically about 5am - 5pm. The team is often a chief resident, 3rd year resident, and you, and maybe another medical student. There are lots of typical older male surgeries like cholecystectomies and hernias, but also interesting oncological, neck, and other abdominal surgeries. The staff is super friendly. The computers are a little old and slow, but the atmosphere there is quite nice. Patients are generally very appreciative and kind. Overall, it is a positive experience if you can deal with the bureaucracy that infiltrates almost every level of care.