Curriculum

The first year of Emergency Medicine resident (EM1) concentrates on developing skills in individual patient evaluation and management, focusing on the basic principles of medical decision making and acquiring knowledge base of the core principles of Emergency Medicine.  The EM1 becomes proficient in the performance of the history & physical examination and begins to develop skills in the use of diagnostic tests, initiating treatment, requesting consultation, developing treatment plans, and arranging follow-up.  Basic procedural skill acquisition is an important part of the first year of training.

Second Year

Second year residents (EM2) concentrate on expanding and refining patient management skills. He or she develops skills necessary to manage several patients simultaneously and broaden the scope of his or her expertise. This year, the EM2 residents are trained as EMS command physicians and are involved in the direction of the care provided by EMS systems. Participation in major medical and trauma resuscitations and advanced procedural skills are an integral part of this year of training. During this year the resident will be introduced to community practice Emergency Medicine.

Third Year

The third year Emergency Resident (EM3) concentrates on broadening exposure and developing efficiency. The EM3 begins to develop skills in the supervision of junior EM and off-service residents and medical students in case management and clinical procedures, including airway management.  The EM3 provides direct on-line medical supervision to Philadelphia and surrounding EMS systems. During this year, the resident assumes more responsibility in community based Emergency Medicine practice, in addition to assuming more academic responsibilities, providing lectures and conferences as a part of their regular activities.

Fourth Year

The EM4 residents concentrate on developing the managerial skills necessary to run a busy Emergency Department (ED). He or she is responsible for the supervision of junior EM and off-service residents as well as medical and physician assistant students directing care for all patients managed in the ED. In addition, EM4 residents direct trauma and medical resuscitations. In parallel with their responsibilities in the clinical setting, the EM4 residents have an expanded role in the didactic curriculum, supervising weekly case conferences and providing advanced, evidence-based seminars on selected topics from the core curriculum.

Rotations

Residents have 15 vacation days spread throughout the year, one week additional off during the Holidays in Block 7, and additional personal days during the year.

Sample block schedule:

Didactics & Conferences

EM conferences incorporate joint lectures for the entire residency with significant faculty participation, addressing evolving topics in the field, Simulation Education, Multi-Disciplinary Education, etc., as well as a split curriculum for Junior and Senior residents, so that core content and advanced and specialized topics may be taught at level-appropriate timing during a resident’s training.

Procedural Training

The procedural training curriculum occurs during two intensive weeks in December and January.  During these training experiences, all residents are excused from other rotation responsibilities to develop the psychomotor skills to improve as an emergency physician. Below is a sample curriculum (labs will vary over a four-year training interval).

• Critical Care Procedure Lab
• Trauma Procedures Lab
• ENT & Ophthalmology Procedures Lab
• Advanced Orthopedic Procedures Lab
• Ultrasound Refresher Lab
• Advanced Airway Lab
• ACLS/PALS/ATLS Renewal
• Pediatric Mock Codes
• Oral Board Simulations
• Medical Malpractice Sim
• Career Finance Planning
• ED Safety Training

Curriculum Research Requirements

Our faculty is dedicated to emergency medicine research, and mentor residents by working with them on their Scholarly Tracts.  Residents begin their Scholarly Tract project early in their intern year, and continue through their PG4 year.  This timing permits residents to complete significant research, along with gaining other experiences associated with their area of scholarly interest.  Many of our residents, as well as faculty, present their projects on a national platform via abstracts, posters, and oral presentations at ACEP, AAEM, CORD and SAEM each year.

The number of ongoing research studies is continually growing in the Department of Emergency Medicine.