Medical Interns

Goal
The main goal for a medical student participating in a Mercy Hospital program is to gain an experience in which he/she can build a passionate and genuine heart for medical care, while also developing the skills and a “well-rounded” résumé for future medical schooling.

Schedule
The schedule for a medical student is created between the student and the volunteer project coordinator(s).  Each student will be partnered with a physician or hospital staff member.

Hands-on Experience
Actual patient care by the medical student is limited and can entail mostly observational experiences.  Medical students in the hospital may often:

1.  Assist with food preparation and distribution of meal trays.
2.  Participate in patient rounds with the assigned physician.
3.  Observe/assist in the laboratory.
4.  Observe patients during diagnostic studies such as cardiac catheterization, ECG’s, and x-rays.
5.  Assist patients with turning, positioning, and ambulating.
6.  Feed children or adults needing assistance.
7.  Participate in or develop activities for children in the pediatric unit.

Medical students in the outpatient clinic may often:

1.  Assist with the set-up and take-down of the mobile clinics.
2.  Participate with the physician in the assessment of patients.
3.  Identify public health issues related to the care of clients in dense populations.