em conferences

Tuesday Emergency Medicine Conferences

The didactic curriculum covers core topics from the Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine in the form of weekly educational conferences. Curriculum topics are covered over a period of 24 months and then recycled. Core didactic sessions are scheduled every Tuesday from 8am - 12noon. (Click here for sample Monthly Conference Schedule) Emergency medicine faculty, emergency medicine residents, off-service residents on ED rotation, medical students, and physician assistant students attend these sessions.

1) Self-Directed Study

Core topics from the Model have been grouped into 24 study modules. Each month the resident is responsible for reading on module topics in the text, Emergency Medicine, by J. Tintinalli. Residents complete a CORD, web-based quiz by the 30th of each month on the assigned module. Each resident can review test results and answers. The goal is to emphasize self-directed study, provide an introduction to the process of continuous certification, and augment the resident's factual knowledge base in preparation for the written ABEM board examination.

2) Electrocardiography

This is a monthly, one-hour case-based ECG session presented by Dr. J. Shiber. Format is interactive with presentation of ECGs to the group and discussion. A mini-curriculum on ECG interpretation and related patient management is covered over 24 months.

3) Advanced Pediatric Life Support

The Advanced Pediatric Life Support Course Curriculum is covered in a monthly, interactive lecture format over 24 months. These sessions, taught by Dr. Patterson, alternate with quarterly Emergency Medicine/Internal Medicine Grand Rounds.

4) Emergency Medicine/Internal Medicine Grand Rounds

This is a quarterly interdepartmental conference with the Department of Medicine, approved for CME credit, and coordinated by Dr. Charles Brown. Guest speakers from both departments present timely Medicine topics in a lecture/case presentation/discussion format.

5) Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds

Invited guest speakers in Emergency Medicine and from other specialties give these didactic lectures, approved for CME credit. A number of these speakers are nationally recognized. These sessions are coordinated by Dr. Leigh Patterson.

6) Resident/Faculty Meeting

This is a monthly administrative meeting where various aspects of the training program and work environment are discussed. This is led by the two EM-3 Chief Residents. Residency directors and faculty address a number of pertinent issues with the group.

7) Chief Complaint Conference

Signs, symptoms, and presentations from the Model are emphasized during these monthly sessions that compliment the Professor Rounds topics. These are given in an interactive, case-based format by Dr. C. Bourne.

8) Emergency Radiology Series

A mini-curriculum in Emergency Radiology, led by an attending radiologist, is covered using a radiographic case presentation/discussion format. Cases reviewed are those seen in the Emergency Department and selected for presentation by EM residents, faculty and radiologists.

9) Procedures/Skills Lab

Two hours per month are devoted to developing expertise in basic and advanced Emergency Medicine procedural skills. Anatomy, technique, indications, contraindications, and complications of Emergency Medicine procedures are taught. This is a hands-on, workshop experience using a skills-station format. These take place in the Emergency Department classroom, in the gross anatomy facilities of the medical school, in the Comparative Medicine Lab, and in the Emergency Care Simulation Skills Lab. These sessions are coordinated by Dr. W. Robey.

10) Morbidity and Mortality

The EM-3 resident on Administration/Education rotation presents actual ED cases (either several similar cases on a single topic or 1-2 cases with different learning points) in which either management errors or unexpected outcomes occurred. The use of multimedia aids and inviting individuals directly involved in the cases reviewed compliments the educational experience.

11) Trauma Rounds

This is a monthly CME-approved conference that is coordinated by the Trauma Service and attended by members of the Department of Emergency Medicine and the Trauma Service. Trauma topics are presented in a lecture or case presentation/discussion format by members of both departments. Emphasis is placed on clinical trauma care, system development, and improving patient care. Cases discussed are frequently those presenting diagnostic or management problems.

12) Toxicology Grand Rounds

These CME-approved Grant Rounds are prepared and presented by the EM-2 resident on Toxicology rotation and faculty toxicologist, Dr. W. Meggs. Format consists of the presentation of unknown cases seen by the Toxicology Consultation Service during the month. Audience participation is encouraged.

13) Resident Lecture

Each EM-3 resident presents an EM topic of their choice during the year. An interactive, case-based format is suggested and current literature regarding the topic emphasized.

14) Pediatric Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds

This is a monthly, CME-approved, interdepartmental conference involving the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, and coordinated by Dr. Leigh Patterson. Guest speakers and members from both departments present timely Pediatric Emergency Medicine topics in a lecture/case presentation/ discussion format.

15) Literature/Biostatistics/Research

One hour each month is dedicated to the critical review of essential Emergency Medicine literature, statistics, and research methodology. Recent articles and current abstracts from the literature pertinent to Emergency Medicine are reviewed for content, research design, and applicability to clinical practice. Various aspects of evidence-based methodology and statistical analysis are emphasized. The EM-3 resident on Administrative/Education rotation reviews and discusses two articles with the group. Faculty from the Division of Research, Drs. J. Gough and K. Brewer, assign the articles and lead the discussion.

16) Resuscitation and Stabilization

These are faculty led, hands-on megacode skills stations, that take place for one hour on the last Tuesday of the month. Resuscitation scenarios follow the topics listed in the Resuscitation and Critical Care Study Module with emphasis placed on code organization, team leadership, and pediatric resuscitation. These are coordinated by Drs. Skip Robey and Leigh Patterson. Mock code scenarios are presented to participants at three different stations, using the Emergency Care Simulator, pediatric models and mannequins, rhythm generators and resuscitation equipment. A designated team leader and team members run each "megacode" for 10-15 minutes. The group critiques the resuscitation effort then rotates to the next station.

Additional Required Educational Sessions

These are "Off-Tuesday" educational conferences and skills labs that residents are required to attend in order to complete specific educational goals and objectives. The resident must attend a minimum number of these sessions per year. It is necessary to attend these additional skills and simulation sessions in order to successfully complete requirements for advancement and graduation.

1) July EM-1 Orientation Series

Emergency Medicine faculty, guest faculty, senior Emergency Medicine residents, and Emergency Department administrative staff provide introductory lectures and workshops for EM-1 residents each July. Emphasis is placed on familiarizing the resident with various aspects of Emergency Medicine and the program, including an introduction to the core competencies, orienting the resident to the Emergency Department environment, and providing an overview of the general approach to the Emergency Department patient. This series includes an Emergency Ultrasound Course, procedures, wound care, and splinting labs. This series is coordinated by Dr. Leigh Patterson.

2) Emergency Procedures Lab

An Emergency Procedures Lab is held the last week of each month in the Department of Comparative Medicine Lab. Each three-hour session is devoted to developing expertise in advanced Emergency Medicine procedural skills. The techniques of performing Emergency Medicine procedures are taught and practiced in a live, hands-on, workshop experience. Each resident is required to attend a minimum of two sessions per year of training. These sessions are coordinated by Drs. W. Robey and K. Corcoran.

3) Emergency Care Simulation and Skills Lab

Each resident is required to complete a number of clinical scenarios and procedures in the Emergency Care Simulation Lab under the supervision of faculty. These sessions are incorporated into the EM-1 Anesthesia/Simulation/Ultrasound, EM-2 Skills, and EM-3 Administration/Education rotations. The availability of partial-body mannequins and models in the Lab and classroom provides the residents with an educational environment where they can practice procedural skills and techniques at any time. This experience is coordinated by Dr. W. Robey.

4) Journal Club

Journal club takes place on the second Thursday of each month from 12:00pm to 1:30pm. These are lunch meetings held in the resident classroom. Emergency Medicine Continuous Certification Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment readings are discussed by faculty and residents during these sessions. Residents are required to attend a minimum of two sessions in the fall and two in the spring each year. These sessions are coordinated by Drs. Leigh Patterson and Kori Brewer.

5) Emergency Medicine Billing

A monthly billing conference is held by Kim Carter, billing specialist, from 8:00-9:00am on the 3rd Thursday of each month. This is attended by residents on EM-1 Anesthesia/Simulation/Ultrasound EM-2 Skills, EM-3 Administrative/Education rotations that month, and any other interested residents or faculty. Emergency Department charts are reviewed and discussed from a billing standpoint.

6) Toxicology/Critical Care Medicine Rounds

At 12:00pm on the 4th Tuesday of each month toxicologists, intensivists from the Department of Medicine, faculty, residents and medical students meet for one hour to discuss the critical care aspects of toxicology patients admitted to the intensive care units. These sessions use a case-based format. They are coordinated by Dr. William Meggs.

7) Toxicology Conference

At 10:00am on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, toxicologists, the EM-2 toxicology resident, other faculty, EM residents, and medical students meet for one hour to discuss clinical cases in toxicology as a part of the toxicology rotation. These sessions are coordinated by Dr. Jason Hack.

8) Medical Student EM Case Conference

Fourth-year medical students completing their acting internship month in the emergency department are required to present a case that they managed. This session takes place on the 4th Thursday of each month at 11am. The session is proctored by the rotation coordinator, Dr. Phillip Clement. EM residents on toxicology rotation, the senior administrative/education resident, and EM residents on Skills and Anesthesia rotations are required to attend.

9) Pitt Community College Ultrasound Lab

Hands-on ultrasound instruction is provided at the School of Ultrasonography at Pitt Community College. These sessions take place on the first and second Wednesday mornings of each month, from 10:00am-12:00am. These are open to all residents and faculty, and required of the EM-1 resident on Anesthesia/Simulation/Ultrasound, and the EM-2 resident on Skills rotation. These sessions are coordinated by Dr. Leigh Patterson.