The perks of doing elective posting.

Before every summer break, elective posting or attachment in hospitals are one of the common topics being discussed among medical students especially for those in clinical years. There will be many things lingering in our mind when we talk about it.

How to apply?

Is it tough?

What should I equip myself with?

Can I cope?

There are fears, and there are expectations. But like what Naik always said, just do it!

Who can apply?

Any medical students who are:

1. Studying in institutions listed on Jadual Kedua Akta Perubatan 1971. Refer Page 43-60,

2. Local IPTA or IPTS,

3. Still studying. Postgraduates cannot apply except registered under overseas Majlis Perubatan, applying under seksyen 6 Akta Perubatan 1971. 

You guys are encouraged to apply to do elective posting in government hospital, be it clinical or preclinical students. It's true that clinical students will obtain more benefit because they are more involved and exposed in performing clinical skills such as history taking, physical examinations etc. But really, what do you have to lose in doing elective posting even before entering clinical years? 

However, for hospitals with piling applications coming in, they will prioritize clinical year students. 

How do we apply?

Application must be AT LEAST THREE (3) MONTHS before posting. You need to provide 2 documents;

1. The official university letter (Figure 1), and

2. Application form. Both Bahasa and English.

Figure 1: Univ letter

Send these documents to the hospital of your choice, in my case Hospital Klang preferably by hand to Unit Latihan. If you're overseas, ask your family member or friend for assistance.

Elective posting is minimum 3 weeks and max 6 weeks for one year.

Which department should I choose?

It really depends on your interest. Preclinical students, as some of my seniors suggested, to choose Medical Department because it requires general skills and knowledge. However, it also depends on the period of your posting. If you're fortunate you will get one of three departments that you have chosen. Ammar and I applied for Medical, Blood Transfusion and Emergency, but then we got Surgery. We knew nothing about it, but let's find out what we can learn.

The perks of doing elective posting...

Like most things that we never did in life and thinking how hard they would be, elective posting is not as tough as I thought it would be. We try to adapt to the environment, to the system. We see how the hospital works. We learn how to scrub our hands. We spend some hours seeing minor and major operations. The first time we wore the mask, we did not realized that we wore them upside down. We listened to numerous medical jargons like BOPU (bowel opening passing of urine), PR (per-rectal), BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy), FBC (full blood count), RP (renal profile), CBD( closed bag drainage) and others. We re-memorized terminologies and medical knowledge that we have already studied.

Occasionally we stay at the clinic seeing new and follow up cases. We see how the doctors are taking history from the patient, and examine them. We asked questions. We've being asked and realize how rusty our brain after a couple of months off. We took patient's blood. We gave Tramadol and Maxolon injections. Labcoats stained with blood and injections. Bored with surgery, we traveled to other departments like Emergency and Medical Departments. We get to make new friends among doctors, MA's (medical assistant), patients and students.

We do not only learn about the drugs and diseases, but we also get to know the people. Their story. There was a young 7-year-old boy with his parents, entering the clinic looking healty and cheerful, then diagnosed with cryptorchidism. The parents knew about 'angin pasang' when he was an infant but instead treat him with traditional methods. Then there was this old male diagnosed with Hepatitis C with unknown cause. He did not blame the former hospital unable to detect it earlier, or himself, but submitted his fate to Allah. "He knows best", he said and followed with some wise words. And then a story of a young Muslimah abusing cigarettes and alcohol after being divorced. These are all stories that we have to deal with every day. 

Studying medicine, let us be the doctor that heal the body and soul. 

Year 4. Bismilah.

Disclaimer: This article is totally based on my personal experience. Feel free not to be binded with my views. Any corrections are welcomed.

Ammar in front of the main gate.

From left me, Kucai, Nafis and Ammar