Academic Programs
Weekly Teaching Conferences
The Department of Emergency Medicine provides 5 hours of educational conference time each week; an additional 2 hours each month is devoted to Journal Club. Added attending coverage in the department ensures that all residents rotating in the Emergency Department can be excused from patient care to attend conferences.
The core curriculum of Emergency Medicine, as defined by the American College of Emergency Physicians, is covered in these conferences. The curriculum is organized around major topics; it is repeated every 18 months so that residents have the opportunity to hear and discuss all topics twice during their three-year residency.
Albany Medical Center faculty, as well as guest faculty from around the country, present lectures throughout the year. Emergency medicine residents also have the opportunity to prepare and present some lectures.
Specific conferences supplement the core lectures:
- TRAUMA CONFERENCE- A biweekly, multidisciplinary conference to present and discuss interesting trauma cases.
- BOARD REVIEW- A biweekly review of the core content tested in the American Board of Emergency Medicine certification examination.
- MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY- This monthly conference emphasizes teaching.
- CHIEF RESIDENT CONFERENCE- Interesting cases and recent, relevant literature are discussed at this monthly conference.
- FOLLOW-UP CONFERENCE - Residents present cases with interesting follow-up teaching points in this monthly conference.
- JOURNAL CLUB - Selected readings from recent literature are presented and discussed over dinner at this informal monthly gathering.
Morning Report
Occurs at 7 am daily. An interesting case, teaching point, or mock code is presented by the senior resident and discussed with the team. Sign-out rounds for the department also occur at this time, giving residents opportunity to get feedback on sign-out processes.
Other Academic Programs
The Emergency Department is actively involved in several other training programs. All Albany Medical College students rotate through the ED (four weeks) during their senior year. In addition to attending didactic and practical educational sessions, they work in the ED under the supervision of attending physicians and senior emergency medicine residents. We also provide clinical experience for residents from other programs, physician assistant training and paramedic education.
Winter Symposium
Since 1988, the Department of Emergency Medicine has sponsored an annual "Winter Symposium" in emergency medicine. Practitioners from throughout the country attend this three-day conference which covers a wide variety of current topics.
The Symposium takes place at a nearby ski resort. Our residents attend free of charge with lodging provided by the Department. During the symposium, we make every effort to schedule clinical responsibilities so that all of our residents can attend at least part of the conference.
Computer Support
Emergency medicine residents have access to several computer stations. Internet, OVID, and Medline access ensure that residents have exposure to state-of-the-art information systems. In addition, software packages are available for word processing, spreadsheet and statistical applications, board review programs, and slide-making.
Benefits
In addition to Medical Center salaries and benefits, emergency medicine residents enjoy the following perquisites: * Membership dues for the American College of Emergency Physicians and Society of Academic Emergency Medicine. * A copy of Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide (Tintinalli) * An educational stipend of $1000 * Tuiton and lodging at the Winter Symposium.
For more information on benefits, see the GME Benefits page.
