1. What makes your program different from
other programs, or what made you choose your program?
The
volume of patients and the acuity: it is true that if you see
many sick patients you will work and sweat more, but the
learning is unequaled.
2. If not
answered above, what's the best aspect of your program?
We
are the trauma code leaders in resuscitations, unlike other
programs where the task is split between trauma surgery and the
emergency medicine residents. Staff is present and willing to
help at any time, yet autonomy is unaffected. We also have a
dedicated pharmacist in the ED 24 hours a day, which is a huge
clinical resource available to residents.
3. Are there any
major upcoming changes to your program?
We
are currently in the process of interviewing a new department
chairperson. We have also recently changed our curriculum,
dropping the first year rotation in Trauma surgery and adding an
additional month of Emergency Department Pediatric experience.
4. Is there
anything you would change about your program if you could?
Move to another city? Honestly, there's little if anything to
change.
5. How much are
you responsible for blood draws, putting in IVs, etc.?
IVs, blood draws and ABGs are performed by nurses. We get called
if they are unable to do so after multiple attempts.
6. Do you learn
mostly from attendings, other residents, or textbooks? Does this
vary when you do off-service rotations?
Most attending in the ED are very willing to teach, especially
during shifts. We also have access to UpToDate in the hospital.
You can always ask other, more senior residents for help during
shifts as well. On the floors, especially on Internal Medicine
rotations (inpatient floors, MICU), the attendings are very
interested and good in resident education.
7. How does EMed
rank in your hospital's hierarchy?
Our
department is not affiliated with any other dept in the
hospital; it is autonomous. Our direction has very strong
connections with the hospital. Our residents are respected
throughout the hospital. We often overhear nurses saying "Oh
good, one of the ER residents is here."
8. What are the
perks that your school provides (PDAs, textbooks, conference
fees, meal tickets, etc.)?
We
are provided with a free PDA, as well as copies of both Rosen's
and Tintinalli's. As second years, the whole class goes to the
annual SAEM conference in May. We also have some book money
available in our 3rd year. Meal tickets are given for
compensation for your on-call months. Our salary compensation
matches favorably with any other program in the nation, if not
being even more generous. Finally, the department will pay for
any conferences we go to if we are doing any presentations
(posters or talks).
9. How do you
rate your rotations outside of the emergency department?
Most of them are extremely helpful. The less needed ones quickly
get cancelled and other more profitable rotations are added
instead. The department is very receptive to our requests for
change.
10. What's the
best elective you've done?
We
have a wide range of Emergency Department electives, including
Ultrasound, Toxicology, Early Intervention team (performing
Early Goal-directed Therapy on septic patients in the Emergency
Department), Pediatric Anesthesia, Research time. We also have
the option of doing rotations at other institutions or in other
countries. One of the 3rd year rotations is a month
working at a community ED in Honolulu, Hawaii. You are given
money for a airplane ticket, provided with a free car and place
to live, and work 14 shifts over the month, getting on average 2
weeks off.
11. How much does
your program focus on research?
The
supraclavicular approach to the subclavian central line and
Early goal directed therapy were born at Henry Ford, as well as
significant stroke and resuscitation research. If a resident is
interested in research, there will be plenty of opportunities in
which to take part. However, for categorical residents, research
is not required.
12. What do you
love and hate most about the city you're in?
Detroit has most, if not all, of the amenities of a major city:
professional sports teams, symphony and opera companies,
musicals, excellent restaurants, museums. The downtown area is
undergoing significant renovation after the recent Super Bowl.
Cost of living is very reasonable compared to larger cities. And
Canada is right across the river. On the bad side, it's still
Detroit. But it's much better than most give it credit for.
13. Please
describe your typical month in terms of work hours and days off.
In
the ED, you work on average 17-21 shifts. Our shifts are 10
hours with 2 hour overlap built in. Shifts are 7am-5pm, 3pm-1am,
and 11pm-8am. So, you see patients during the first 8 hours of
your shift, and then for the last 2 hours (once the new
residents arrive), you have the time to finish paperwork, tie up
loose ends, dictate and leave once you're done. We never work
more than 60 hours in a week, often closer to 50 hours. Our
conference is on Thursday from noon to 5pm, and the time is very
protected (ie., if you're on an outside rotation, you come to
conference and no one says anything). We also get fed lunch at
noon and get snacks at 3pm (the better to stay awake with).
14. How much time
do you spend off-duty with the other residents?
We
tend to be very social, and residents and sometimes attendings
often go out after shifts for food and drinks. Otherwise, it
depends on the people. The single people often hang out more
than the residents married with kids.
15. Do you have
any international experience?
Nothing definitely set up, but the department is very
supportive. If you find somewhere to go during your 3rd year,
they will very likely support you.
16. What are your
plans after residency?
Most residents go on to work in private hospitals, although some
do go on to either fellowships or academic appointments.
17. How prepared
do you feel?
Very well prepared. If you can do it at Ford, you can do it
anywhere. On the interview trail, when people hear you're from
Ford, they're impressed. We often hear that "there's always room
for a Henry Ford graduate".
18. Is there
anything you'd like to tell us that we haven't asked?
It's the perfect program in a not perfect city.