An Applicant's Evaluation of a Medical House Officership

Abstract The selection of a house-officership program by senior medical students requires information that can only be obtained through a visit to the institution under consideration. Arrangements to obtain the information can be made through the appropriate directors of house-staff training. In addition to the formal interview, the applicants should direct inquiries to house officers currently in training. These conversations will elicit data concerning the facilities available for patient care, the house officer's involvement with those facilities, and the types and numbers of patients and their diseases. Exploration of educational opportunities can be furthered by questions designed to determine the quantity and quality of the existing house staff, attending staff, and formal instructional programs. Finally, information related to the regional environment and the social and cultural climate into which the house officers and their families will move can best be gained from questions directed to their peers. (N Engl J Med 291:601–605, 1974)