What kind of doctor's bag should I get?

[Nickel]

I just got my package of medical equipment for next semester's physical diagnosis class. I was thinking about getting a small L.L.Bean duffle bag (the wide mouth sort, just in case anyone wanted to know) to carry everything around in. I would like to get something that will be useful even during rotations, but since I'm just a first year, I have no idea what kind of features make a doctor's bag really useful.

So here are the questions: What kind of doctor's bag should I get (and where do I get it)? Should I forget about getting a new bag and just throw everything in my backpack?

I'm especially worried about getting something that's the wrong size.

I appreciate your help, folks.

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[CANES2006]

A doctor's bag?!! It's funny now that I think about it. A doctor's bag has always been essential to the costume of an actor who plays a doctor on T.V., but in the real world, I have never met one doctor who carries a doctor's bag around. I think you should hold off a while on buying a doctor's bag. Ask your classmates what they are doing with their equipment. During the past semester, I either carried my equipment in my bookbag or stuffed them in my locker.

 

[mamadoc]

hey that's what all those POCKETS are for in your white coat! If you're not required to purchase a white coat yet, just shove everything into a backpack or something. Medical supply places do still sell "doctor's bags," nifty little leather things complete with your gold-embossed initials but I have never seen an attending or resident, much less a student, carry one.

 

[Nickel]

Well, I'm glad I paid attention to the premonition I felt when I was gathering information on it and discovered that Saks Fifth Avenue sells "doctor's bags."

You've convinced me. I'll just stuff everything in my backpack. Now with the money I've saved, I think I'll go buy laundry detergent and wind shield wiper fluid.

 

[deleted9493]

I certainly wouldn't advise buying a duffle bag or anything like that. The european style leather book bag is the way to go. The styles of these bags vary. I would go with a bag that doesn't have a shoulder strap and isn't telescoping in nature (is slim). That's my opinion.

 

[KyGrlDr2B]

I don't know any 3rd or 4th years with doctor's bags either. They cram everything they need into their coats. For my physical exam class, I'm planning on carrying everything around in this nifty bag I got as a Clinique free gift one time. Everything fits perfectly.

 

[Brandon]

I asked my doctor once if he carried a doctor's bag and he said "Heck no! I wouldn't last 2 minutes on the streets of chicago carrying one."

So he carries meds and such in a little duffle/gym bag. He said he knew of too many ppl who were mugged, shot, killed for these bags!

 

[Dodge This]

Coat pockets...

During first and second year, I've had the oto/ophthamoscope kit in one pocket, BP cuff/reflex hammer/tuning forks in the other, pen light in the shirt pocket, stethoscope around the neck. Coat gets heavy, but it works. Most first/second years take this route. I've seen a few of the girls using those thin shoulder bag things that I can't describe well and it works for them.

 

[12R34Y]

Why do I keep hearing about 1st and 2nd years carrying around BP cuffs, otoscopes, opthalmoscopes etc......when do you need to have these? doesn't every single room in every single clinic/ER have these things. I know even every patient room as at least a BP cuff. I've never heard of anyone having to carry these things around with them.

comments?

later

 

[DrMom]

We have to have all of our own equipment for our clinical skills class.

 

[Amy]

Originally posted by 12R34Y
Why do I keep hearing about 1st and 2nd years carrying around BP cuffs, otoscopes, opthalmoscopes etc......when do you need to have these? doesn't every single room in every single clinic/ER have these things. I know even every patient room as at least a BP cuff. I've never heard of anyone having to carry these things around with them.

comments?

later

We were "required" to buy these things, but I didn't, for the exact reason you said... they're in EVERY room. Also, just about all of my classmates bought the stuff, so I borrow from them if I need something. The only thing you really NEED is a stethoscope... I bought a BP cuff too, which I regret, because I don't think I've used it once. I learned from that, and did NOT buy a diagnostic set (oto/ opthalmascope). I'm conviced I made the right decision.

 

[DrMom]

We don't have an option. All of the stuff is required. I talked with a few practicing primary care physicians & most of them still used the equipment that they bought in med school. Other specialists were hit-&-miss as to whether they still used the stuff.

 

[lamyers1]

At my school nearly everyone bought a bag. It is not the typical "doctor's bag" though. They sell one here that looks like a gym bag (in several colors) but is insulated from heat and has a bunch of compartments for equipment, etc. They run inexpensive, around 35 bucks. However, most students use the bag as storage and while on rounds carry their stuff in their pockets as previously mentioned. I like having something, even if a nice bookbag to load the stuff in...

 

[Nickel]

We were required to purchase our equipment too. Our physical diagnosis professor told us that part of the reason is that a lot of the equipment out there lying around in hospital rooms is crap.

We weren't even given any leeway concerning which brand to purchase; all of my classmates have the exact same equipment. Some of my friends were given stethoscopes as gifts and will not be allowed to use them in class. Our professor refers to Littman stethoscopes as the "scotch tape stethoscope"; they are not acceptable for our class. We also had to buy this Welch-Allyn pan-optic opthalmoscope which looks like a gun and is supposed to be the wave of the future.

Are any other schools like this?

 

[lamyers1]

We have the choice to pick brands, etc. We had Welch-Allen and Littman reps come in. Their deals pretty much beat internet offers - plus that great warranty while we are in school. Several students bought the panoptic, a few second years came in to purchase it, also. I ordered it, then changed it. Most offices don't have the panoptic hanging on the wall, so we have to be proficient in the regular scopes first. Also, other students say the panoptic is so bulky to carry around in lab pockets. I figure I can always buy just the panoptic head eventually if I want. They are promised to be the wave of the future, with good reason.

 

[shag]

Originally posted by Nickel

We weren't even given any leeway concerning which brand to purchase; all of my classmates have the exact same equipment... Our professor refers to Littman stethoscopes as the "scotch tape stethoscope"; they are not acceptable for our class.

Who's he/she getting kick-backs from???

 

[Castro Viejo]

I'm part of the anti-doctor's bag camp as well, but just in case anyone wanted to actually carry around one of these things, do what the gas docs do and use a "fanny pack."

 

[Dodge This]

Originally posted by 12R34Y
Why do I keep hearing about 1st and 2nd years carrying around BP cuffs, otoscopes, opthalmoscopes etc......when do you need to have these? doesn't every single room in every single clinic/ER have these things. I know even every patient room as at least a BP cuff. I've never heard of anyone having to carry these things around with them.

comments?

later

I'm sure those training in some county facilities would beg to differ regarding the equipment available per each ward, let alone each patient room.

 

[DrMom]

Originally posted by lamyers1
At my school nearly everyone bought a bag. It is not the typical "doctor's bag" though. They sell one here that looks like a gym bag (in several colors) but is insulated from heat and has a bunch of compartments for equipment, etc. They run inexpensive, around 35 bucks. However, most students use the bag as storage and while on rounds carry their stuff in their pockets as previously mentioned. I like having something, even if a nice bookbag to load the stuff in...

I basically got the same type of bag. I wanted to have something that had the compartments.

 

[Castro Viejo]

In a follow-up, one of my classmates recently bought a bag custom-made by a company called Timbuk2 (I think that's how you spell it). They sell "messenger-style" bags that can be fitted with extra pockets and are made to order.

 

[governorgeneral]

A few people in my class ordered this one, everything fits in quite nicely:

MEC Small Carry All Shoulder Bag

 

[Annette]

I used a nylon bag made for holding shampoo, soap, etc. Works fairly well. Works well when I'm travelling to keep all my stuff together.

I only had two rotations where I used my equipment- rural family practice and truama. I didn't really need it for trauma, but it gave me more mobility. I've never used the blood pressure cuff except on family.

 

[Apollyon]

Originally posted by CANES2006
...but in the real world, I have never met one doctor who carries a doctor's bag around.

Originally posted by Nickel
...We also had to buy this Welch-Allyn pan-optic opthalmoscope which looks like a gun and is supposed to be the wave of the future.

Ironically, Neurology is the answer to these two questions - I have seen Neuro residents and attendings with the traditional bag, and, also, Neuro residents with the gun. It's good, but, damn, expensive!