Team Structure

Team structure varies based on site. Teams consist of an attending, resident, interns and students. Rounds are multidisciplinary and include input from nurses, pharmacists, social workers, case management, nutritionists and respiratory therapists. In most units, residents work collaboratively with Advanced Practice RN's and physician assistants.

Workload

Interns work less than 80 hours per week and have 1 day off in 7 when averaged over four weeks.

Experience

Residents in the Critical Care Units provide care to complex patients requiring medical intensive care, acute coronary care, and combined medical/neurological intensive care. Rotations in each type of unit give residents experience with a variety of critically ill patients, with a focus on the unique aspects of the specialty of each unit. At each site, residents get hands-on experience with point-of-care ultrasound. There is an opportunity to become certified in invasive procedures.

Patient Population

The Critical Care Unit patients are admitted from the Emergency Room, transferred from the General Medical floors, or transferred from other hospitals via ambulance or our LIFE STAR helicopter service.

Educational Activities

Case conferences and group discussions deal with all aspects of patient care, including data acquisition, problem delineation and synthesis, and pathophysiologic principles and management.