current issue - Mayo Clinic

epetitions,” says Dr. Brost.
“Too many residents don’t
master procedural skills early
in traditional training, which
is unacceptable in providing
patient care. Particularly in
obstetrics, the patient is almost
always awake and family
members are often present,
so there isn’t the opportunity
to fine-tune skills on patients.
Brian Brost, M.D. (right), uses a fetal pig to demonstrate ultrasound skills,
with help from former PRIMER students (from left) Elizabeth Cozine, M.D.,
Kirk O’Donnell, M.D., Todd Stanhope, M.D., and Sara Oberhelman, M.D.
Unique aspect
of patient care
Dr. Gostout credits
Dr. Brost with developing
training that prepares
residents for the
complexity of taking
care of real women in real situations. “Birth is a unique aspect
of patient care. The events are indelible in women’s minds and
are replayed forever,” she says. “We want the experience to be
as positive as possible. PRIMER is a wonderful resource for our
residents but, more importantly, it allows them to give patients
a better experience.”
“If it takes an experienced
physician five minutes to
perform an episiotomy repair
on an actual patient but takes
a new learner an hour, that
difference creates discomfort
for the patient and time away
from her baby. Ensuring
residents are adept at
procedures by training them
in this intense experiential
program contributes to patient
satisfaction, trust and comfort.”
PRIMER focuses on repetition toward proficiency and measured
advancement in procedural skills. “There’s a tendency in training
to ascribe competence with successful completion of one or two
6 Mayo Alumni