First-year residents develop a strong background in emergency medicine and critical care. The year begins with a one-month orientation. During this time, interns work ED shifts, attend EM didactic education, and work on their procedural skills in the simulation lab. Residents spend six blocks in the ED with one block spent at NRV, our community hospital. Three weeks of vacation are integrated into ED blocks. Inpatient rotations include medical critical care, pediatrics, trauma, OB/GYN, anesthesia, and a block split between radiology and EM ultrasound.
Second-year residents spend most of their time in the ED, growing their EM knowledge-base while taking on more responsibility and gaining autonomy. Residents spend seven-months in the ED (five blocks in the main ED, one block in the Pediatric ED, and one block working at FMH, our rural ED site). Three weeks of vacation time are integrated into ED blocks. Inpatient rotations include one block on each of the following services: orthopedics, MICU, CCU and SICU. PGY-IIs also complete a two-week toxicology rotation at the Blue Ridge Poison Center in Charlottesville, VA and a two-week selective.
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, as well as supervise trauma resuscitations. Third-year residents spend eight blocks in the ED and two blocks at NRV, our community hospital. PGY-IIIs cover the Pediatric ED at night during their ED months. Three weeks of vacation are integrated into ED blocks. Residents spend a block in both the Pediatric ICU and the Neuro-Trauma ICU. To round out third-year, residents are offered many unique elective opportunities. Throughout the year, residents can moonlight.
