ECE Tracker vs Bugs & Drugs 2.0

The Essential Clinical Experiences Tracker (ECE Tracker) is used to monitor the core experiences that must be completed by every clerk during each clerkship rotation in the McMaster Undergraduate MD Program. It helps the MD Program ensure that we are providing a good breadth of clinical experiences for each trainee throughout the clerkship. Each experience listed in the Tracker has been assigned a specific role and patient type as defined by each clerkship. It is possible for a single experience to be met in more than one clerkship, but if the role or patient type requirements differ between clerkships, the experience may have to be completed again in subsequent clerkships. Experiences can be classified into three major categories: primary presentations, procedures and professional competencies. The list of presentations can be filtered by these categories. Experiences can be logged on the fly, or batch entered prior to the mid-rotation or end-of-rotation deadlines. We encourage you to log them at the time, as some rotations and supervisors like to review the experiences for formative educational conversations. Additional features include the ability to ‘quick add’ an experience, or edit the details of an encounter. Some rotations may also include additional probing questions or resources related to their encounters. Encounters can be entered via the native app, or through the medportal curriculum management system’s web interface. You can also check your ECE completion statistics through the app or medportal. If you are having trouble seeing all of the required clinical experiences for a clerkship rotation, please check in with your supervisor or site coordinator, to ensure that they help you to find suitable clinical learning opportunities to fulfill your objectives.

We are pleased to release this new version of Bugs & Drugs. Bugs & Drugs is a comprehensive, evidence-based reference for physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurse practitioners and other health care practitioners. Bugs & Drugs provides clinicians with the latest recommendations for the appropriate use of antimicrobials and the optimal treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. It is also a key component of antimicrobial stewardship efforts. This reference can optimize patient outcomes and minimize the unintended consequences of antimicrobial use, including toxicity, superinfections, resistance, and unnecessary treatment costs. Bugs & Drugs is divided into six sections: 1. Antibiotics 2. Treatment recommendations for infections in children and adults (including selected ophthalmic, fungal, and parasitic infections), 3. Recommendations for the prevention of infections, 4. Treatment and prophylaxis of dental infections, 5. Infections in Pregnancy and 6. Microbiology The Bugs & Drugs app is well suited for healthcare practitioners looking for an evidence-based mobile reference and provides therapeutic options in a clear, concise manner. Once installed, you do not need internet access to use the content. Internet access is only required for initial installation of the app and to receive updates. The content is prepared by Dr. Edith Blondel-Hill (Medical Microbiologist/Infectious Diseases Specialist, Kelowna General Hospital) and Ms. Susan Fryters (Antimicrobial Stewardship/Infectious Diseases Pharmacist, Alberta Health Services) with the help of over 40 reviewers with expertise in infectious diseases, infection prevention & control, microbiology, pharmacy, and Public Health. Users should seek a doctor’s advice in addition to using this app and before making any medical decisions.