For the Trainee Interns their Medicine Long Case Exam includes a 40 minute assessment on a medical patient, followed by 10 minutes to gather their thoughts and make notes for their 25 minute presentation to a clinical examiner.

Patients are also asked to give feedback as to how the Intern performed.  This covers the Intern's clinical, communication and observation skills.  It's also an opportunity to learn from the patient -  in fact some patients are so expert in their medical conditions they teach the students a thing or too!

Volunteer patient Mr Gyde has been acting as a 'guinea pig' (his words) for the past 8 years and enjoys the experience.  He says he makes the perfect case study due to his medical history of diabetes, heart valve replacement and problems with his Blood Pressure.

"The students need to learn so I'm happy to help out," says Mr Gyde.  "I think they do a great job and will make wonderful doctors in the future."  

The examinations held at Middlemore are run by the South Auckland Clinical School (SACS), previously based off the Rainbow Corridor.  The School is now located on Level 2 of the Support Building.

"We've had a busy time lately with student exams and the move to our new home," says Maria Vitas, Manager of South Auckland Clinical School.   "Thanks to Alex Smart, Ko Awatea Centre Manager and her team for their invaluable assistance in ensuring that our inaugural exam in Ko Awatea was a success.  A big thank you to Chris Jaggs, Clinical Equipment Coordinator, for not only providing us with the idea of collapsible beds for the first floor (much easier to take up the lift), but also for facilitating this for us.  SACS would also like to thank the Clinical Training and Education Centre (CTEC) for allowing the Year 5 Short Case exams to be held in their newly renovated area, and also to all the patients that willingly give up their time to participate in these important assessments."

And as for the students we wish you well on your exams and look forward to seeing some of you back at Middlemore next year on clinical placement while others as fully fledged doctors on the wards in the near future.