Reflection
Comparing my experiences in Clinical Correlation I and Clinical Correlation II demonstrates significant growth in my communication skills, clinical reasoning, and ability to function as part of a healthcare team. During Clin Corr I, which included primary care, emergency medicine and urgent care settings, I found interacting with the patient to be the most challenging. I was unsure how to emotionally connect to the patient, struggled to ask focused follow-up questions and redirect the patient towards providing information in an organized manner, and often felt hesitant during clinical encounters. In addition, I found it difficult to recall and apply the necessary medical knowledge in real time to formulate multiple differential diagnoses and appropriately connect diagnostic tests to patient presentation. Educating the patient was another area of difficulty, as I lacked confidence in determining how much information to provide and how to translate medical jargon in layman terms so the patient can understand and make informed choices with their medical care.
One specific case was centered around the topic of child abuse. The patient’s mother brought the child into urgent care for injuries sustained from falling off the monkey bar. Upon inspection, it was clear there was involvement of physical abuse. Navigating speaking to the child and mother while ensuring both parties remain calm and do not leave against medical advice was a tough challenge, especially considering as the provider, you may be their only chance at escaping the abusive situation and getting the necessary help they need. I learned that one should be patient and informative with patients, as empathy and understanding are just as important as educating and medical treatment.
By clinical correlation II, which included surgery, pediatrics and emergency/outpatient experience, my approach became more confident, intentional and patient-centered. I developed a stronger understanding of how to work in a multidisciplinary team, ensuring each person had a critical role in patient-centered care and learned the importance of effective communication, not only with patients, but also with providers, nurses and other healthcare professionals. I became more comfortable emotionally connecting with patients, acknowledging their concerns and building rapport while maintaining professionalism. A strength I found was my ability to adapt communication styles to different patient populations and clinical settings, especially when working with pediatric patients and families. A specific case involving a pediatric patient with leukemia taught me the importance of delivering critical information quickly, guiding parents through each step of care, and maintaining clear, compassionate communication, as timeliness and education can be life-saving.
Despite this progress, I recognized ongoing areas for improvement, especially in patient education. While I became more confident in engaging patients, I continue to work on delivering clear, accurate explanations of diagnoses and treatment plans in a way that is both understanding and reassuring. I aim to continue to strengthen my ability to recall medical information to support my differential diagnoses and guide evidence-based decision making. Overall, my progression from Clin Corr I to II reflects meaningful growth in both my interpersonal and clinical skills, and has prepared me to continue developing as a competent, compassionate, and collaborative PA student.
