This rotation involved a totally different method of patient care when compared to my previous rotations. Patient interview, and mental status examination took place of the history and physical exam. Additionally, when it comes to internal medicine, emergency medicine, or urgent you can perform a physical exam, and get the chief complaint from the patients, and work up your diagnosis. However, in psychiatry a lot of patients are not of sound mind, lack proper insight, judgment, and impulse control, and at times unable to articulate what is going on. As a result, my observations skills developed, enabling me to determine whether a patient is internally preoccupied, or they are acting bizarre or incoherent.

I enjoyed every aspect of this rotation. CPEP is run majority by PA’s who graduated from York Program, who are eager to teach students on psych medication such class, interactions, and side effects. They also would allow us to conduct interviews on our own, as well as write up the HPI. I was taken to consults in the ED, and pediatric consults as well.

Although procedures were limited I was to perform a lot of MMSE, depression screenings, and safety plans. This rotation gave me exposure to different sides of medicine that I didn’t have outside of class. In my previous rotation in emergency medicine, if anyone came in with psych complaints we just referred after being medically cleared. Given that this is my last rotation it was a great way to end it. I got exposed to things I did not before. I was able to improve on my interviewing skills, and writing HPI which I will be carrying forward.