 Do
you have an Ultrasound teaching program?
Yes. Dr. J. Christian Fox, our director of emergency ultrasound,
is fellowship trained and leads our ultrasound program. He holds
weekly teaching sessions (during clinical shifts, quality assurance
tape review, and formal lectures in conference) to ensure everyone's
proficiency with this essential diagnostic modality. In June 2001
the faculty purchased a new ultrasound machine ($100k) which includes
abdominal, endovaginal, and vascular probes, including color flow
Doppler, and video recording capabilities. Over the three years
of residency, each resident is expected to perform over 700 ultrasounds
and ultimately be credentialed to perform emergency ultrasonography.
What
is the actual presence of faculty in the ED? What are their backgrounds?
Full-time DEM faculty are present 24 hours a day (43 hours of coverage
per day.) All of the DEM faculty are board certified or board eligible
in Emergency Medicine. Other board certifications include Infectious
Disease, Internal Medicine, Medical Toxicology, Sports Medicine,
Geriatrics, and Pediatrics. UCI EM residents are fortunate; they
have nearly a 1:1 faculty/resident ratio!
What
is the accreditation status of UCI's EM program?
The program was approved by the Residency Review Committee for
Emergency Medicine in February 1989, and fully re-accredited in
1992, 1996, and 1999. In 2005 the Accreditation Council for
Graduate Medical Education again granted full accreditation for the
maximum term of 5 years to the UC Irvine Emergency Medicine
Residency.
What
are the average number of shifts worked per month and how long are
they?
For vacation months the resident usually works 15 shifts/month;
20 in non-vacation months. These shifts last 12 hours the first
two years and 10 hours for the third year.
How
close is x-ray to the ED? Who reads the films and when?
The Emergency Department has its own X-ray suite within the department
which operates 24 hours/day. Images are digitized and immediately
available for review on two hi-res screens in the emergency department.
These images are maintained by the hospital and and archived for
comparison with new films. After hours, the main radiology suites
supply X-ray support, including computerized tomography and ultrasound.
Radiology residents are in-house 24 hours/day and "wet-read"
many Emergency Department films.
What
is the availability of general lab and arterial blood gases (ABG's)?
All ED laboratory tests receive first priority (with Trauma ICU)
in the central laboratory services of the hospital. A "tube"
transport system quickly shuttles samples to the lab. Lab turnaround
for STAT ED specimens is within 30 minutes 96% of the time.
What
is the trauma experience like at UCI?
The trauma experience obtained at UCI is one of the strengths of
the program for its diversity and variety of experience. The training
is designed to provide the full spectrum of trauma care, not just
initial ED stabilization. Residents will experience being the first
advanced trauma provider in the field, trauma care in the ED, participation
as an integral team member in a dedicated trauma team, and providing
trauma critical care in the SICU after initial stabilization. There
are approximately 1500 major trauma activations per year, and 120
major burns. Ten percent of patients go directly to the OR from
the ED. 80% of patients are victims of blunt trauma, while 20% suffer
penetrating trauma. The ED has a great working relationship with
the trauma service, and patient management is done cooperatively
and collegially.
How
is the resident's performance evaluated?
The resident's performance is evaluated by those supervising his/her
activities. A written assessment is given to the program director
on a monthly basis. A summary of these evaluations will be communicated
in writing to the resident. On at least a semi-annual basis, discussions
of these results will be held between the resident and the program
director. Should deficiencies be identified, plans to remedy them
will be documented in writing and placed on file, and the resident's
progress and improvement will be monitored at least every three
months. In addition, documents of the resident's management of emergency
conditions (major trauma, medical and pediatric resuscitations and
emergency procedures) will be kept and reviewed periodically by
the program director. Finally, should impaired residents be identified,
the program director will intervene appropriately on behalf of the
impaired resident, the patient, the institution, the public, and
the faculty involved.
How
are the faculty evaluated?
At the end of each rotation, the resident completes an evaluation
of the faculty. At least annually, individual faculty members will
be formally evaluated by the director of the DEM, the residency
program director, and the EM residents. Review will include documentation
of teaching ability, clinical knowledge, and scholarly contributions.
Summaries of these evaluations will be communicated to each faculty
member.
How
are the specific rotations evaluated?
Rotations are evaluated by the residents at meetings between the
attending physicians and the program director. In addition, the
curriculum is continuously evaluated by both residents and faculty.
The results of these evaluations are kept on file.
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