CURRICULUM

Beginning in July, the PGY-1 resident is exposed to the emergency department early with protected shifts so that they may learn the art and science of Emergency Medicine. The first month is spent at “home” in the Emergency Department. The PGY-1 is coached and guided through these early shifts, evaluating patients based on their comfort level, while learning to appreciate the breadth and depth of the specialty. Concurrent to the early practice of Emergency Medicine, the orientation of the PGY-1 includes a lecture series on the approach to common problems in the ED. Lastly, the PGY-1 is exposed to the common procedures in Emergency Medicine. Ultrasound and Simulation are highly utilized during these sessions.

The rotations of the PGY-1 year run the breadth of medicine and are critical for the foundation of knowledge required by young emergency physicians. These include trauma, orthopedics, the medical intensive care unit, and the coronary care unit. Additionally, the PGY-1 is exposed to significant amount of ultrasound in the first year. The PGY-1 will become proficient in the use of ultrasound by the end of this year. These rotations take place at Ocala Regional Medical Center, a 46,000 visit per year ED, level 2 trauma center, chest pain center, and stroke center, and West Marion Medical Center, a busy 47,000 volume ED.

The PGY-2 year is built to allow the resident to utilize the foundations learned in the 1st year for practical application in the emergency department. The knowledge and skills learned will be featured in a supervised setting with enough freedom to allow the resident to confidently manage multiple ill patients on their own while providing an opportunity to teach off-service rotators and medical students.

This year also allows the resident to demonstrate their acumen in a trauma setting, since along with the trauma team, the PGY-2 will be managing acute traumatic injuries. Furthermore, while rotating with our surgical colleagues and EM physicians who have critical care training, the PGY-2 resident will continue to develop and maintain a keen understanding of the acutely injured patient both in the ED and during their surgical critical care block.

Increased exposure to Pediatric Emergency Medicine is also present in this year, with the EM resident actively engaged in the care of the acutely ill and injured pediatric patient.

This is the year when the resident utilizes everything they have learned in an cohesive manner. The knowledge and skills learned over the first two years are applied in a setting which allows the resident the opportunity to primarily manage multiple patients, from the critically ill to fast track patients. Furthermore, the resident is responsible for assisting supervising physicians with the education of both PGY-1 residents and medical students. The PGY-3 also assists the supervising physician with the overall management and flow of the emergency department.

Along with continued shifts within the Pediatric Emergency Department, the PGY-3’s skills and knowledge in managing the critically ill child are solidified when rotating in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Lastly, we have developed a track based curriculum in which the PGY-3 resident will explore their interests in Emergency Medicine with a curriculum of their choice. EMS, Ultrasound, Sports Medicine, and Critical care are but a few of the options available for this “mini-fellowship” opportunity.