Elective Posting At UKM Medical Centre

Elective Placement at UKM Medical Centre

PPUKM is one of the four university hospitals in Malaysia and is managed by UKM, renowned for its number of specialties and subspecialties it offers.

As an elective student assigned to Orthopaedics department (by choice) in PPUKM, I was expected to participate in all the department activities. This includes ward rounds, outpatient clinics, and operation theatre sessions, various seminars and a weekly census discussion.

PPUKM Orthopaedics Department has an entire floor to itself. The wards are subdivided into Advanced Trauma, Arthroplasty, Paediatrics Orthopaedics, Spine Surgery, Sports Injury, Hand and Microsurgery, Rehabilitation Unit, Orthopaedic Oncology and Foot and Ankle Service. This is extremely different from HSNZ and Hospital Kemaman which only has a general ward of Orthopaedics. The subdivisions are led by consultants and medical officers, with houseman officers (HOs) rotating between subdivisions. This means each division staff have highly specialised knowledge which is deeper than it is broad, and are very willing to impart to HOs and students.

The department also holds a weekly census discussion where everyone gathers to discuss patients. HOs and MOs present cases and the consultants would drill them on every facet of management possible. I was disappointed and relieved with this. I was disappointed at myself for not being able to answer the questions thrown to freshly graduated HOs despite already completing my Orthopaedics posting, and thus relieved that I have another year to grind for housemanship.

I was one of the lucky ones who was able to clerk and observe an operation on a popliteal pterygium case which is rarely seen in Malaysia. I was also able to scrub in many times during OTs - I realise now that I would prefer ward work instead, and this has shifted my perceptions of my career pathway.

I bunked with my HO friend and was able to observe how houseman officers work around the clock. They would be at the wards at 6am to take blood, set lines and complete their review before the ward rounds start at 8am. Then it’s ward work afterwards, or clinic sessions. On call periods are the worst, when you are required to be in the ward constantly on alert - but these periods are rewarded by a day of post-call when they’re able to sleep. It seems like rest is the most valued commodity for HOs - they would sacrifice their lunch time to catch a nap in the dorms before rushing back to work. This pushes me to be more efficient at my work - I wouldn’t be able to study with the limited time I’ll have; everything has to be at my fingertips.

My objectives for the posting included the following:

1. To shadow houseman officers closely so that I’m familiar with what is expected of a HO after I graduate. I stayed with two houseman officers who allowed me to shadow them around the clock.

2. To assimilate my theoretical knowledge into practical skills needed for practicing medicine.

This was achieved as I learned how to do various procedures and diagnostic methods.

3. To be better informed whilst making decisions on where to apply for housemanship.

This was achieved as I scoped out PPUKM and compared it to HSNZ and Hospital Besar Melaka (my hometown). PPUKM receives more complicated and rare cases (eg popliteal pterygium) as many are referred to the specialists who work there, which allows for better access to rare cases necessary to broaden horizons if aiming to be a specialist.

The elective is a blessed opportunity for me to gear up for my future. I have learned many practical skills that I’ll be able to utilise, and have learned the importance of discipline and working efficiently. If you start walking now instead of resting, you wouldn’t be a hectic headless chicken running afterwards when hurdles come. Procrastination was my biggest enemy.

My elective at PPUKM was a wonderful experience having met great friends and superior officers who were very much obliging and helpful. I have honed many interpersonal skills and hard skills as well. The RM750 fee was well worth the fees to undergo elective posting at PPUKM.

Meeting up with friends, hunting for food, and participating in various bible studies and jumble sales, I was able to play hard as well as work hard. Being able to also savour countless KL delicacies makes my heart hurt when I think of how I’ll not taste them again for at least a year more.

I would like to thank UCSI University for giving me this opportunity and the Elective Posting Organisation for their support in making this a reality.F