During my urgent care rotation, I focused on strengthening my patient interviewing, history-taking, and clinical reasoning skills. I solidified the habit of using the OLDCARTS framework to ensure I gathered comprehensive and organized patient histories. For example, when assessing a patient with chest pain, this structured approach helped me identify key details like radiation to the jaw and exacerbation with exertion, which significantly improved my ability to develop a differential diagnosis. Over time, I became more confident in synthesizing patient information into meaningful clinical possibilities, avoiding tunnel vision on one diagnosis and considering a broader range of conditions.

I also had the opportunity to perform physical exams on patients presenting with various complaints, such as abdominal pain, respiratory issues, and musculoskeletal injuries. These hands-on experiences helped me refine my clinical skills and improved my ability to correlate physical findings with patient histories. 

I also deepened my understanding of chronic disease management, particularly for conditions like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. I feel that I have a better understanding of indications, side effects, and monitoring requirements as well as the importance of patient education and adherence. One case involving a patient with poorly controlled diabetes highlighted the need for tailored treatment plans, lifestyle modifications, and shared decision-making.

Additionally, I gained practical experience with preventive care and screening recommendations, including referring patients for colonoscopies, Pap smears, and mammograms based on current guidelines, with the doctor later approving the referral. This process reinforced my ability to navigate EHRs efficiently and communicate effectively with patients about the importance of these screenings.

All in all, this rotation strengthened my skills as a PA, especially as a history taker and examiner.