ROM Galil Students Practice Medicine While Supervised Remotely, in Eilat

Six third-year, four-year MD track students from the prestigious ROM Galil community medicine program, headed by Dr. Anat Einy, flew down recently for two days to volunteer at a counseling clinic  for citizens who were relocated to Eilat due to the war. Participating in the activity were the Natan non-profit association, the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, and professional experts from the North. 

The consulting doctors, who volunteered, remained in the center and the North of the country while the students (who went down south in two rounds), Dr. Dalit Navot, Dr. Sharon Shaul - responsible for the health field at the Natan association, and Dr. Einy went down to Eilat to be with the students.

Consultant physicians included:

• Dr. Amitai Oberman of Tzafon Medical Center (internal medicine and geriatrics), as well as Faculty of Medicine instructor
• Prof. Peter Gilby, Clalit physician (ENT) as well as Faculty of Medicine instructor
• Dr. Ayelet Ollech of the Sheba Medical Center (pediatric dermatology)

Consultations was carried out with the help of telemedicine, via a system that allows accurate remote photography, transmission of images from an otoscope, transmission of heart sounds, transmission of ultrasound and EKG images.

Each patient arrived about an hour before the consultation with the specialist, the student received him or her, performed a medical interview and a relevant physical examination. Afterwards, the student sat with the patient and presented them in front of a screen to the consultant. After a combined conversation with the patient, the consultant and the student, the consulting doctor made his recommendations and the student continued with the patient for an explanation of how to proceed.

There were about ten patients in each round.

Patients and students were very satisfied with the learning, and grateful.

The educators reported that this was an example of medical education at its best.

We hope to continue, with evacuees from the north as well.