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International medical students/graduates and graduates of Fifth Pathway programs who plan to participate in the 2013 Main Residency Match (in March 2013) are reminded that they must take Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) by December 31, 2012. As published in the 2012 Schedule for Reporting Step 2 CS Results (www.ecfmg.org/news/?p=52), if you do . . . → Read More: IMGs Participating In 2013 Match Should Apply For Step 2 CS Now   Leave a comment  Announcements, ECFMG Announcements, Old IMG, USMLE Step 2 CS  clinical, ecfmg, eligibility, fifth, graduates, IMG, international, Match, medical, old IMG, pathway, program, publication, registration, residency, schedule, skills, step 2CS, usmle, usmle exam, usmle examination, usmle prep 
As previously announced, a new patient note and redesigned Communication and Interpersonal Skills subcomponent will be introduced into the USMLE Step 2 CS examinations beginning June 17, 2012. Updated practice and orientation materials reflecting these changes have been posted to the USMLE website. Examinees who plan to take the Step 2 CS examination . . . → Read More: Updated Practice and Orientation Materials for Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) Exam have been Posted 
How is the Step 2 CS exam scored? Examinees are scored in three separate subcomponents: Integrated Clinical Encounter (ICE), Communication and Interpersonal Skills (CIS), and Spoken English Proficiency (SEP). Each of the three subcomponents must be passed in a single administration in order to achieve a passing performance on Step 2 . . . → Read More: USMLE FAQS: Step 2 CS (Clinical Skills) Leave a comment USMLE FAQ, USMLE Step 2 CS base, clinical, data, education, evaluation, exam, extensive, gathering, information, interpret, licensed, monitor, notes, patient, performance, physicians, process, professional, program, quality, rapport, record, score, scoring, simulated, skills, SP, standardized, training, usmle, usmle prep, USMLE Step 2 CS, videos 
As a very old IMG, I was faced not only with the problem of having forgotten a lot of what I knew before. I also have a problem that a lot of what I know is obsolete and there are a lot of new concepts that I do not know. Medicine is constantly . . . → Read More: Problems of the Old IMG: Obsolete Knowledge 
To further enhance the testing methods used in the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) examination, changes will be introduced in Step 2 CS for examinations and will be delivered beginning June 17, 2012. The reporting schedule for examinees testing from June 17, 2012 through November 3, 2012 will be 2-3 weeks longer than . . . → Read More: Changes to the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) Examination Click here to access Askdoc’s USMLE Step 2 CS Prep Course
The USMLE Step 2 CS is probably the most neglected examination in the USMLE. It is usually taken as an afterthought, with very little preparation taken before the exam. And in relation to the other bigger exams, Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3, maybe it is not as “important”. Unlike its bigger cousins, USMLE Step 2 CS is a pass/fail exam. So performing really wells serves no other purpose than to feel good about yourself. Of course, over preparing can also insure that there is no chance you will fail. However, it is important to realize that although USMLE Step 2 CS is relatively simple, if you are unfamiliar with the methodology of the exam you can fail. For most AMGs this is not a problem since simulated patient exams are part of their normal curriculum. However, for most IMG’s it is a rather novel experience. Therefore, the key to doing well in the Step 2 CS exam is to be so familiar with the methods that it becomes second nature to you. This includes doing a relevant medical interview, performing a focused physical examination and writing a legible and coherent patient note. All under time pressure. You also need to dress, act and speak in a professional manner. And all this takes practice. The most important thing in preparing for Step 2 CS is practice. Practice, practice and more practice. Askdoc’s USMLE prep course currently consists of 30 practice cases that you can use to sharpen your mastery of the methods. An additional 30 cases will be finished in the next few days to bring the total number of cases you can practice on to 60. Continue reading Askdoc’s USMLE Step 2 CS Prep Course Now Open for Enrollment
We now come to Part III of our discussion on “Preparing for the Step 2 CS” In Part I, we discussed how to prepare for the medical interview part of the clinical encounter. In Part II, we discussed the physical examination part of the clinical encounter. We will now tackle the social aspects of the clinical encounter which is usually called bedside manners. We can further divide the social aspects of the clinical encounter into two. Those that you do in every clinical encounter and those that you do in specific situations. We will start with the first one. So what are the things you do in every clinical encounter? Continue reading Preparing for the USMLE Step 2 CS – Part III
We now come to Part II of our discussion on “Preparing for the USMLE Step 2 CS”. In Part I, we discussed how to prepare for the medical interview part of the clinical encounter. We will now tackle the physical examination part of the clinical encounter, To answer the first question on a lot of people’s mind. No, you should not do the physical examination while conducting the medical interview. Not only is it rude, you miss the opportunity of building rapport with your “simulated patient”. A question your “patient” is asked is if they would want you to be their physician and depending on the source could be an additional 1 or 2 points for you. Continue reading Preparing for the USMLE Step 2 CS – Part II Leave a comment Study Methods, USMLE Step 2 CS building rapport, clinical encounter, clinical history, complete physical examination, examination, gloves, medical history, medical interview, multitasking, note, paper and pen, Preparing for the USMLE Step 2 CS - Part II, risk, standard operating procedure, Step, usmle, USMLE Step 2 CS
For the past few months, I’ve written articles that deal with all the different Steps except for Step 2 CS. So this will cover preparations for Step 2 CS. Like most IMGs, I felt really anxious preparing for the Step 2 Clinical Skills. This was primarily due to the novelty of the examination method. (simulated patients, etc.) Although, we had a type of clinical skill exam in training, we had actual patients which we examined rather than a simulated patient and what was graded was more on did we get the diagnosis and treatment right, rather than how we did the interview or physical examination. In other words, on the results rather than the process.
This is a really big topic and would probably take at least a dozen posts maybe even two to finish. However, we have to begin somewhere. This is actually the most common question asked in forums. When people ask whether First Aid is enough, should I do Q Banks, do I need Goljan, etc. the question they are really asking is, what should I study for the USMLE. When they scour through exam experiences in forums, spend money on bootlegged CDs or DVDs or decide whether to use the extremely expensive UCV (you know its my pet peeve Continue reading What to Study for the USMLE – Part I
“Study the High yield stuff”. “Don’t bother with that because it’s low yield”. When I was just starting my review, these are the most common advice I get from “experts” in forums and books about reviewing for the USMLE. The question is how good is this advice. Continue reading High Yield Concepts and the USMLE.
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” |
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), etc. what they really are concerned about what to study for the USMLE.
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