Clerkship Objectives
Throughout your rotation, your primary goal should be to develop skills in performing individual patient evaluations. As a senior medical student, you should become thorough and efficient in the performance of history and physical exams and should begin to develop skills in the use of diagnostic tests, initiating treatment, requesting consultation, developing a treatment plan, and arranging appropriate follow-up. Focus should be placed on providing high quality care, with an approach that will avoid misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of life threatening conditions.
You are expected to see a reasonable number of patients and begin to develop efficiency as you acquire a basic familiarity with common Emergency Department presentations. The focus of your efforts should not be on the volume of patients seen, but on the efficiency and accuracy of individual patient evaluations.
Specific Objectives
Obtain accurate problem-focused history and physical exams
Recognize immediate life-threatening conditions
Recognize when patients should be appropriately referred to the Emergency Department
Recognize the importance of arranging appropriate follow-up plans for patients being discharged from the Emergency Department
Recognize the role of EM in the community, including access to care and its impact on healthcare, in general
Understand the indications, cost, risks, and evidence behind commonly performed ED diagnostic studies
Develop a basic understanding of procedures commonly performed in the Emergency Department, including: PIV insertion, laceration repair, EKGs, Foley catheter insertion, lumbar puncture, central line placement, nasogastric tube insertion, slit lamp exam, abscess drainage, intraosseous line insertion, bedside ultrasound exams, needle decompression, chest thoracostomy, endotracheal intubation, procedural sedation, orthopedic reductions, thoracotomy, cricothyroidotomy
Develop Patient Management Skills:
Develop a differential diagnosis when evaluating an undifferentiated patient
Create a diagnostic plan based on your differential diagnosis
Come up with a treatment plan
Monitor response to therapeutic interventions
Develop appropriate disposition and follow-up plans
Develop Presentation Skills:
Present cases in a complete, concise and organized fashion
Effectively communicate with consultants and admitting services