5th year students of the general medicine and pediatric faculties of Ural State Medical University (USMU) are undergoing practical training at polyclinics in Yekaterinburg and the region. In total, more than 500 future doctors are helping primary care professionals in the face of a sharp increase in the incidence of coronavirus infection COVID-19.

“During the period of increase of COVID-19 cases, the main blow falls on polyclinics, and we help staff with the bureaucratic part of the work, as well as take calls at the call center. We have not had time to get a doctor’s appointment yet, since many doctors have gone on sick leave, but we still have time, so we hope to be in time,” said USMU student Yakov Lysenko, whose practice takes place at the polyclinic of the Central Clinical Hospital No. 20 in Yekaterinburg.

By the way, Yakov continues the family dynasty: his grandfather is an anesthesiologist-resuscitator by profession, his father is an obstetrician-gynecologist, and his mother is a sanitary doctor. A young man in a year and a half will become a certified specialist – like his future colleagues, whose help is now so needed.

“There is a rotation so that we can see as much medical work as possible. Helped the doctors in the vaccination room, in the emergency room. Help is needed not only for doctors, but also in call centers and receptionists,” says Zlata Tlein, a student at the Faculty of Medicine and Prevention.

The head nurse of the therapeutic department of the polyclinic of the Central City Clinical Hospital No. 20, Yulia Vaznina, notes that the primary link is now faced with very heavy loads, which were not there before:

“Employees get sick, there are a lot of calls, a lot of sick people, so the help of USMU students is like manna from heaven for us. The guys work in two shifts, they are all great – they immediately got in the know. Call patients, take calls to the hotline. We are very grateful to the university for its support. Of course, it’s hard for the guys, because they immediately got to the front line.”

More than 50 students of the medical and preventive faculty of the Ural State Medical University also entered the practice at the institutions of Rospotrebnadzor. Another 70 2nd year students of the Faculty of Pediatrics participate in the work of the call center based on the Medical Information and Analytical Center of the Sverdlovsk Region.

by Daria Korchak