Abstract

Though much is currently written about the fate of the medical internship, only one previous study detailing the specifics of the internship experience has been recorded in the literature. The present report summarizes a straight medical internship in a university training program. There were 329 admissions in 123 admitting days. A large variety of medical problems were encountered and a high percentage of patients were acutely ill. Heart disease and cancer accounted for 40% of all admissions and nearly half of all deaths. The most frequently performed procedure was lumbar puncture. It is hoped that this report will stimulate objective record-keeping by others, so that future discussions about the medical internship will be based on fact and not impression.