Curriculum
Our curriculum was built partly on ACGME requirements and partly on our residents' feedback. The faculty and program staff are very responsive and open to any suggestions that we have during our month to month experiences. We have biannual in-person reviews with a faculty member to assess our progress, as well as faculty and peer reviews online. We use Amion for scheduling and MyEvaluations for procedure logs and formative feedback. We have weekly didactics on Wednesdays with one week every month consisting of simulation and procedural practice. Wednesday from 7:30am to 12:30pm is considered protected time, regardless of the rotation you are on.
Our shifts in the ED are 10 hours long, with the last hour of the shift to be spent dispositioning patients and finishing up notes. Interns work 21 shifts per month when in the department, and we never work more than 6 days in a row when in the ED. Second years work 19 shifts, and third years work 18 shifts. Ultrasound training is built into the Anesthesia month during the first year (intubations in the morning, US in the afternoon). Our EMR is Epic, and with the help of Dragon we can dictate while charting. We use QPath Software to allow our faculty to view and evaluate our ultrasound scans.
The program provides Rosh Review, PEER, HIPPO EM, EMRAP, and ACEP/EMRA membership at no cost to our residents, so you do not have to spend your educational stipend on these! We also have full access to electronic resources through the hospital for research and studying.
The year is divided into 13 4-week blocks.
PGY-1
4 blocks Emergency Medicine
Our blocks are grouped by AM or PM shifts so there is consistency to promote a good sleep schedule and routine. You may also have 1 to 2 Observation Unit shifts during the day blocks.
2 blocks Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Residents on these blocks get first dibs on all pediatric patients in the department. 1 of those months includes 4 ride-alongs with Toledo Fire Department Paramedics (Peds/EMS block).
2 blocks Trauma Surgery
We work side by side with the surgery residents to take care of our trauma patients.
1 block MICU
This is a new change as of 2020. By request of the residents, we added one extra month of MICU to the curriculum for more ICU experience during the first year of residency. We work closely with the Internal Medicine residents during this block.
1 block Observation Unit (AKA Extended Treatment Unit or ETU)
The ETU is run by the EM interns and EM faculty. This is a unique experience that allows us to see beyond when we admit a patient from the department. No other services or senior EM residents rotate in this unit, allowing the EM interns significant autonomy with just the right amount of guidance from faculty.
1 block Pediatric ICU
We see the sickest of the sick kids. We also work alongside the pediatric residents and learn from dedicated PICU faculty.
1 block Anesthesia/Ultrasound
The goal of this month is to become comfortable with intubations in a controlled setting as well as formal and informal ultrasound training in the ED. Tube in the morning, US Lube (US Gel) in the afternoon!
1 block Obstetrics
Our focus is on deliveries and seeing consults from the ED.
PGY-2
6 blocks Emergency Medicine
1 block in the Emergency Medicine at St. Charles
This is our designated rural/community emergency medicine experience. This is our only off site rotation and is about 15 minutes away from St. Vincent.
1 block Pediatric Emergency Medicine
1 block EMS
Recently adjusted this year to optimize second years being prepared to start flying at the beginning of their third year, this month is focused on completely all of the requirements to be approved by the AeroMed committee.
1 block of Medical ICU
1 block Trauma Surgical ICU
New this recent year based on feedback from residents and working with the surgery residents and trauma surgery attendings. You will respond to trauma alerts and priorities and round daily on the trauma ICU patients.
2 blocks Neurocritical Critical Care and Neurosurgery
We are also part of the Stroke Response team during this month. You will become ENLS certified for these months.
(In-house moonlighting available for neurosurgery during PGY-2 year)
PGY-3
9 blocks Emergency Medicine
If you choose to fly with Life Flight, you will have longitudinal flight shifts during these months.
1 block Pediatric Emergency Medicine/Teaching
1 block Elective
This rotation is completely up to the resident. Some have done self-study with online modules, while some have traveled all around the world to do international medicine.
1 block ED/Combo
1 block Medical ICU
(Out-of-house moonlighting available and encouraged by the program during PGY-3 year)