Use of case histories in teaching clinical microbiology

In the Winter Quarter, 1977, case histories were introduced into the Diagnostic Microbiology course of the Medical Technology curriculum at the University of Minnesota. The primary goal was to increase the students' exposure to patients and patients' illnesses and to emphasize the role and responsibilities of technologists and clinical laboratories to these patients. This goal seems to have been met as indicated by an evaluation received from the students, since 58.3 percent believed they better understood the role of the technologist and clinical laboratory in patient care. Other side benefits we hoped to achieve seem to have been partially met. These included: 1) association of infectious processes with other laboratory results; 2) a feeling of integration with the patient and health care team; and 3) the introduction of medical terminology.