Emergency Medicine Clerkship

Objectives of Emergency Rotation

Understand concept of Emergency ABC’s.
Understand initial evaluation of the undifferentiated Emergency Medicine patient, and stabilization of acutely ill patients, functioning as part of Emergency Department team.
Acquire skills to approach traumatic injuries with priority to lifethreatening problems, but also to common, less acute injuries.
Understand structure and functions of EMS systems.
Understand the management of patients with toxic exposures in general, along with specific, common overdoses in lecture and reading assignments.
Understand management of common environmental illnesses.
Sharpen procedure skills.
Recognize limitations of Emergency Department, establishing appropriate consult and referral skills.

The Clerkship in Emergency Medicine will allow development of skills in the following competencies:

Human Relationships and Communications

Student will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of a diverse patient population with vastly different cultural, social, and economic backgrounds.

Professional Behavior

Student will demonstrate ability to function as part of health care team, showing respect for patients, staff, and physicians.
Student will demonstrate understanding of patient right to treatment, refusal of treatment, and when care needs to be performed against a patient’s will.

Diagnostic

Student will demonstrate a rapid, focused but thorough history and physical examination.
Student will demonstrate appropriate usage and interpretation of laboratory and ancillary tests.

Information Management

Health Care Management

Student will demonstrate an efficient, cost effective approach to diagnosis and treatment planning.
Student will demonstrate recognition and initial treatment for life threatening emergencies.

Procedural

Health Care Team

Student will demonstrate understanding of the roles and competencies of other health care providers.
Student will demonstrate ability to function as part of Emergency Medicine team.

Problem Solving

Student will demonstrate list of differential diagnoses given a specific chief complaint and patient characteristics.
Student will demonstrate ability to use history, physical exam and ancillary studies to test initial diagnoses.
Student will demonstrate the ability to rerank the differential diagnoses based on gathered information.

Core Discipline Competencies

Student will be able to understand the presentation, evaluation, and treatment of the following clinical presentations

Perform a focused Emergency Department history and physical exam. This includes chief complaint, HPI, PMH, medicines, allergies, and brief social history.
You are an integral part of your patient’s care. At all times you should be aware of your patient’s status. You must ensure that the needs of the patient (ex: labs, xrays, IV’s, fluids, etc) are met.
Present your history and physical to either the Senior Resident or Attending, including your management plan. If the resident or attending changes this plan, understand the rationale for the revised plan. Remember: Do NOT overlook vital signs (that’s why they are called vital), tetanus, pulse ox, etc.
Make sure the senior resident or attending is notified before any disposition, either discharge or admission. When leaving shift, make certain that all of your patients are signed out to the next shift, and make sure the Senior Resident or Attending is aware of change.
Procedures such as peripheral IV catheter insertion or Foley catheter insertion should be done by you. If not successful after two attempts, then request nursing staff assistance. For more invasive procedures, you may do the procedure, but must have a resident or attending supervision.
Treat your colleagues, nurses, and staff with the same respect you would expect to enjoy