Lessons learned: Contribution to healthcare by medical students during COVID-19

Matthijs H Bosveld; Daan P C van Doorn; Patricia M Stassen; Dewa Westerman; Dennis C J J Bergmans; Iwan C C van der Horst; Walther N K A van Mook

doi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2020.09.015

Lessons learned: Contribution to healthcare by medical students during COVID-19

J Crit Care. 2021 Jun:63:113-116. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2020.09.015. Epub 2020 Sep 19.

Authors

Matthijs H Bosveld¹, Daan P C van Doorn¹, Patricia M Stassen², Dewa Westerman³, Dennis C J J Bergmans⁴, Iwan C C van der Horst⁴, Walther N K A van Mook⁵

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences Maastricht University Medical Centre+ and Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
² Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ and Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Caphri School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ and Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ and Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
⁴ Department of Intensive Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ and Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
⁵ Department of Intensive Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ and Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Academy for Postgraduate Medical Training, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ and Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School of Health Professions Education, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ and Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

An overview of the experiences with deployment of undergraduate medical students in a Dutch university center during the COVID-19 pandemic is provided from organisational and educational perspectives. Medical students' and specialists' experiences during the first peak of COVID-19 underscore the preliminary suggestion that students can be given more enhanced (yet supervised) responsibility for patient care early in their practicums.

Keywords: COVID-19; Competency; Medical education; Medical students; Undergraduate.

MeSH terms

COVID-19 / epidemiology*
COVID-19 / virology
Delivery of Health Care*
Education, Medical, Undergraduate
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Mental Competency
Netherlands / epidemiology
Pandemics / prevention & control*
SARS-CoV-2*
Students, Medical*