Patient Encounter Stations
Master the Patient Encounter Stations
Overview of Patient Encounters
Your exam will feature 10 patient encounters, each dropping into one of 9 clinical presentation categories. Here’s the lineup:
Anterior Segment Disease
Binocular Vision
Contact Lens
Glaucoma
Neuro-Ophthalmic Disease
Pediatrics
Posterior Segment Disease
Refraction
Systemic Disease
The 15-Minute (Okay, 18-Minute) Examination Period
Observation Time (3 minutes)
It's the three-minute scramble! Use this time wisely:
Review the patient encounter notes.
Jot down questions like you’re preparing for an interview.
No need to wash your hands, but use hand sanitizer before entering the room.
The patient (also known as your proctor) will stroll in with just 30 seconds left of the observation time. Picture them dramatically entering the room like they’re in a reality show.
Examination Time (15 minutes)
Now it’s showtime! The proctor will be your patient, but remember: they might not look anything like the actual patient. So, if you were expecting a Caucasian female in her mid-40s and get an Asian male in their 20s instead, just roll with it.
FOLDARS EMMA’S Family
Here’s your handy acronym for asking patient history questions—because who doesn’t love a good mnemonic?
Frequency
Onset
Location
Duration
Associated symptoms
Relieving factors
Severity
Eye history (last eye exam, surgeries, etc.)
Medical history (last PCP, injuries, surgeries)
Medications (you can skip this if it's on the entrance form)
Allergies
Social history (smoking, hobbies, etc.)
Family history (ocular and systemic)
Clinical Data Review
Once you’ve gathered your information, tell the proctor, “Please give me a moment to review some information on my device.” This is not just for theatrics; it’s a solid move!
Ancillary Tests
After digesting the info, you can order ancillary tests. Remember the golden rule:
Structure your order as: [testing] to rule out [indication]. For example, "OCT macula to rule out macular disease" sounds smart, right? If you have other indications to order a test (like assessing functional vision), don't be afraid to do that also!
Patient Education
Educate your proctor about their condition with flair. Cover:
Diagnosis
Etiology/pathophysiology
Treatment plan
Follow-up
Make sure to speak in patient-centered language—no medical jargon that makes their eyes glaze over!
Once you’re done, don’t be shy. Dismiss the patient with a friendly, “Thank you Mr./Ms. Lee, you may check out.” But beware! Once they leave, they’re gone for good. Use any leftover time to submit your plan.
Encounter Note
The encounter note is key, but don’t worry too much about subjective and objective documentation—it’s your time to shine in the assessment and plan sections!
Assessment: Select the most significant diagnosis from the drop-down menu.
Plan: Include:
Treatment
Prescriptions written fully (with dosages and duration)
Non-medical therapy
Referrals (who, when, where)
RTC with an exact day (e.g., “RTC in 5 days” instead of “5-7 days”).
Patient Education in Your Notes
This part is crucial! Write it in patient-friendly language and cover:
Diagnosis and etiology/pathophysiology
Home care instructions
Activity/lifestyle modifications
Potential alternative treatment plans
Side effects of medications
Prognosis
Warning signs for immediate RTC
Spoiler alert: One of these categories will be a repeat, so stay sharp! Also, keep in mind that one encounter is not graded—like that awkward first date that doesn't count.
If you encounter a child, don’t forget to ask the proctor whether you're talking to the child or to the parent/guardian
Remember, you can ask questions throughout the entire 15-minute time frame, not just in the beginning. If you realize you forgot a question as you are reviewing the data or want more information, feel free to ask!
Keep in mind, you'll still get all the relevant tests, even if you didn’t order them. But, if they give you tests that you didn't order, that doesn't mean you get points off (as per their rubric, whatever that means...)