1. What makes your program different from
other programs, or what made you choose your program?
Unique location 1hr from beach 45min from mountains. We are a
referral center for the largest county in the
US. We take trauma from the east side of LA to
Las Vegas.
2. If not
answered above, what's the best aspect of your program?
Combined experience at LLUMC (academic hospital) and Riverside
County Regional
Medical Center (county
hospital staffed by private group).
3. Are there any
major upcoming changes to your program?
No foreseen major changes.
4. Is there
anything you would change about your program if you could?
Larger ER at LLUMC would make for better flow.
5. How much are
you responsible for blood draws, putting in IVs, etc.?
Residents do none of these at either of our sites.
6. Do you learn
mostly from attendings, other residents, or textbooks? Does this
vary when you do off-service rotations?
We tend to learn from all three. There is more teaching at
LLUMC. Conferences are very educational.
Conference>attending>reading>other residents
7. How does EMed
rank in your hospital's hierarchy?
ER is toward the top. We are stars on the off-service
rotations.
8. What are the
perks that your school provides (PDAs, textbooks, conference
fees, meal tickets, etc.)?
Books, Cal-ACEP intern year (hotel/travel/registration), ACEP
3rd year (hotel/travel/registration), free meals at county
hospital, discounts at LLUMC
9. How do you
rate your rotations outside of the emergency department?
Some are better than others. ICU rotations are a great
experience.
10. What's the
best elective you've done?
I'm currently on an aeromedicine elective where I fly on
helicopters with various public and private agencies. Most do
ultrasound or airway electives. We also have a strong
international emergency medicine program. I went to Kenya in
April. We have 2 international trips each year which residents
can go along.
11. How much does
your program focus on research?
Some attendings are very into it. Others are not. We have the
standard RRC research requirement, but it is not stressed beyond
that.
12. What do you
love and hate most about the city you're in?
It's not a city. It's sprawling suburbs and it's a drive into
LA if you want to be in a city.
13. Please
describe your typical month in terms of work hours and days off.
Interns work 22 ER shifts. PGY2/3 work 20, less if there are
holidays.
14. How much time
do you spend off-duty with the other residents?
The interns bond well and spend lots of time outside
the hospital together. I spend time weekly with resident
friends outside the hospital.
15. Do you have
any international experience?
Yes, as mentioned above, we have a strong international program
with multiple trips each year.
16. What are your
plans after residency?
Possibly EMS fellowship and return to the Pacific Northwest/Northern Rockies.
17. How prepared
do you feel?
Rather well prepared.
18. Is there
anything you'd like to tell us that we haven't asked?
Come check us out; you'll be surprised.
19. Do you have
any advice for current applicants, or is there anything you wish
you'd known when you were applying?
I was initially put off by the religious affiliation of the
institution, but was impressed when I interviewed here and have
been quite happy with my match!
