1. What makes your program different from
other programs, or what made you choose your program?
Hermann Hospital is one of the busiest trauma centers in the country with one of the
largest volumes of patients with high Trauma Severity Scores.
Hermann is a private hospital, but also serves a significant
indigent population. The acuity is extremely high, and the
pathology diverse.
2. Are there any
major upcoming changes to your program?
Work is currently underway to expand the program by increasing
the number of residents per year and adding a county-based ED to
our program.
3. How much are
you responsible for blood draws, putting in IVs, etc.?
None. However, if nurses are unable to get IV's, we frequently
employ ultrasound to get IV's or place EJ's.
4. Do you
learn mostly from attendings, other residents, or textbooks?
Does this vary when you do off-service rotations?
A combination of the above. There is 24 hour attending
supervision in the ED. As you progress from PGY1 to PGY3 your
responsibilities, autonomy, and teaching opportunities also
increase. Monthly reading assignments are given at the start of
each year, with a quiz at the end of each month.
5. How does EMed
rank in your hospital's hierarchy?
Hermann Hospital places an enormous emphasis on acute and emergent care. Our various
departments lead the country in acute trauma care, stroke
management, door to cath time for AMI, and more. All of these
efforts are dependent on a strong emergency medicine
department. Our interactions with other services reflect this.
6. What are
the perks that your school provides (PDAs, textbooks, conference
fees, meal tickets, etc.)?
Textbooks
(Rosen's, Tintinalli, a procedure book etc.) are provided to
PGY1 residents at the start of their training. Each resident is
put through and certified in ACLS/ACLS Instructor courses, ATLS,
APLS, BDLS. Meal Tickets are provided each month. Each
resident is sponsored (travel, room, food, conference fees) to
attend a single conference during their training. Residents
presenting at a conference are sponsored for additional
meetings.
7. How do you
rate your rotations outside of the emergency department?
Our program places great
emphasis on learning emergency medicine within the emergency
department. Great efforts have been made to maximize resident
education outside of the ED. Rotations that are felt to be sub
par or of limited benefit are changed or replaced.
8. What's the
best elective you've done?
Emergency Medicine Ultrasound
is a favorite among our residents. Our program has made
substantial investment in this field. We have dedicated EM US
faculty, excellent technology, and a curriculum/program to
fulfill ACEP guidelines for certification. Other popular
electives include LifeFlight (helicopter medicine) and difficult
airway (through the Dept of Anesthesia).
9. How much
does your program focus on research?
There has been a recent effort
to increase the amount of research undertaken at our
institution. Dedicated staff (including statisticians, nurse
coordinators, etc) and technology are available for resident
research interests.
10. What do
you love and hate most about the city you're in?
Houston is enormous. You can
find anything you want or want to do here. The food is
amazing. Traffic can be painful, but with shift work this is
minimized.
11. Please
describe your typical month in terms of work hours and days off.
A typical month in the
emergency department consists of 15-19 shifts per month
(depending on PGY status). Shifts are twelve hours. Conference
is every Wednesday from 7AM-12 (this is protected time, including off service months).
12. How much
time do you spend off-duty with the other residents?
We are a close knit group.
Residents participate in monthly social activities. Parties and
social events are frequently hosted by residents and often
'sponsored' by faculty.
13. Do you
have any international experience?
Currently there is no program
available.
14. What are
your plans after residency?
Although we have graduates
around the country, the majority of our residents stay in Texas
after graduation. This is one of the highest paid states in the
nation for Emergency Physicians. Each year several residents
pursue academic positions, but the majority enter community
practice.
15. How
prepared do you feel?
Extremely well prepared.
16. Is there
anything you'd like to tell us that we haven't asked?
Moonlighting opportunities are
available for second and third year residents. Though not
required, these opportunities are an excellent way to test and
expand on your knowledge, and help transition in to your career
after residency.
17. Do you have
any advice for current applicants, or is there anything you wish
you'd known when you were applying?
Work hard. Consider all of
your options. Go visit programs you are interested in. Away
rotations are excellent. Get to know the residents and faculty,
and pursue programs that 'fit' your personality.
