1. What makes your program different from
other programs, or what made you choose your program?
The
hospital is a large private hospital that saw about 120,000
patients in the ED last year. It's a great place to see a wide
variety of patients and still have the experience of the
community hospital which is the type of practice I am looking
for.
2. If not
answered above, what's the best aspect of your program?
The attendings are excellent
here and they all will take the time to teach.
3. Are there any
major upcoming changes to your program?
No.
4. Is there
anything you would change about your program if you could?
Nothing major that I would
change. There is a computer module for the off-service rotations
your first year that I think could be improved or eliminated.
5. How much are
you responsible for blood draws, putting in IVs, etc.?
We have nurses and techs that
do a great job taking care of those things.
6. Do you learn
mostly from attendings, other residents, or textbooks? Does this
vary when you do off-service rotations?
Attendings only when in the
ED. On off service rotations it can be either attendings or a
mixture of senior residents and attendings.
7. How does
EMed rank in your hospital's hierarchy?
Emergency Medicine is well
respected both as a residency and a department of the hospital.
8. What are
the perks that your school provides (PDAs, textbooks, conference
fees, meal tickets, etc.)?
$1500 per year for conferences/books/software.
$2000 per year meal allowance, Free parking Three weeks vacation
as well as an extra 5 day break over Christmas or New Years.
9.
How do you rate your rotations outside of the emergency
department?
Very
good. Over the years they have been able to fine tune the
curriculum so we can get the most out of our off service
rotations.
10. What's the
best elective you've done?
Peds Sedation is very good, I
became very comfortable sedating kids for various procedures,
and I am doing an ultrasound elective later in the year.
11. How much
does your program focus on research?
There is a mock research
proposal that you are required to write during your second year
and you can also perform the study as well if you chose. There
is also several studies going on in the ED most of the time that
you can become involved in. Basically if you want to do research
the support and faculty knowledge is definitely there, but it is
not the major emphasis of our program.
12. What do
you love and hate most about the city you're in?
I like how accessible it is to
go camping, fishing or do anything outdoors. I was also
surprised at how many good restaurants there are here. The
downside is that the economy here is not as strong as it is in
other places.
13. Please
describe your typical month in terms of work hours and days off.
In the ED: 21 8 hour shifts as
a PGY1, 19 shifts as a PGY 2 and 3. Offservice can vary greatly,
30 hours a week on radiology to 70-75 per week on SICU but I
have never had a problem going over duty hours.
14. How much
time do you spend off-duty with the other residents?
I think our residents get
together socially a decent amount. While we can't all make every
outing I would say there is something going on about once a
week.
15. Do you
have any international experience?
There are opportunities for
international rotations your second and third year.
16. What are
your plans after residency?
I plan to find a job working
in a medium sized community ED.
17. How prepared
do you feel?
I feel I will be ready to work
anywhere when I am finished.
18. Is there
anything you'd like to tell us that we haven't asked?
You are eligible to moonlight
your 3rd year and most of us do, partly for the extra money but
mainly for the experience of working on your own. There is also
an opportunity to moonlight on the helicopter service here as
well.
19. Do you have
any advice for current applicants, or is there anything you wish
you'd known when you were applying?
Don't get hung up on details like how much penetrating trauma
there is or admission rates etc. Try to get a feel for the
residents and if they are happy and if they are the kind of
people you would like to work with. That was most helpful for me
when I interviewed.
