Curriculum and Facilities
Our curriculum is designed to provide a maximum amount of educational opportunity while allowing adequate personal time. Providing a stimulating and supportive work environment is a priority for our faculty.
Clinical Responsibilites
As residents advance through our training program, they enjoy progressive amounts of responsibility and independence. There is a proportional decrease in weekly work hours as residents proceed to their senior years. Residents work 9-hour shifts in the Emergency Department, with first-year residents working 22, second-years 21, and third-year residents 20 shifts per month. Four weeks of vacation/reading time are provided each academic year, with this time taken from the ED months.
Orientation
To provide an appropriate introduction to the department, Albany Medical Center, and the practice of emergency medicine, all first-year residents begin their training program with a month-long orientation. This includes formal didactic and practical laboratory sessions in addition to an abbreviated clinical schedule.
PGY-1: First-year residents focus on developing a strong background in emergency medicine and critical care. The year begins with a one-month orientation balanced between formal educational sessions and clinical experience. Inpatient rotations include one month each in Surgical, Medical, and Cardiac Intensive Care. There are half month blocks of anesthesia and obstetrics. First year residents also spend five months in the Emergency Department, with an additional month dedicated to Pediatric Emergency Medicine.
PGY-2: Second-year residents spend the majority of their time in the Emergency Department, taking on progressive responsibility and autonomy for patient care. This is made up of five months of ED-Medicine/Pediatrics and four months of ED-Trauma. There is a one month rotation in the Pediatric ICU. Additional half month rotations provide experience in EMS/Aeromedicine and Ultrasound. Residents are encouraged to join or intitiate a research project during their second year.
PGY-3: The knowledge and experience gained in the first two years culminates in an opportunity for third-year residents to teach junior residents and medical students and supervise trauma during three months as ED-Supervising Resident. In addition, four months are spent in ED-Medicine/Pediatrics. Third year residents spend one month in a Community Hospital ED where they enjoy a large degree of autonomy while working alongside emergency medicine trained attendings in a community practice setting. There are ample opportunites for educational enrichment through half month off-service rotations in EMS/Aeromedical and Administration, and during two months of electives. Among many options, popular electives include Toxicology, Radiology, International Emergency Medicine, and Research.
Emergency Department - Innovative Facilities
We have created an ultra-modern Emergency Department capable of supporting our commitment to patient care and education. The department is a state-of-the-art 21,500 square foot, 45-bed facility. We have full radiology services, including helical CT scanning, within the ED. Three ultrasound machines are available within the department for bedside use, and are used by residents from the beginning of training. Computerized patient tracking and radiology contribute to patient care and communication. There are ample reference resources for patient care and education.
We strive for an efficient environment for learning and for patient care. Ancillary servies such as lab, X-ray, ECG, and respiratory therapy are readily available. In addition, dedicated, highly trained nurses and excellent clerical staff assure that resident time is devoted to education and patient care, not transportation and phlebotomy.
