Curriculum/Rotations
St. Vincent Medical Center Emergency Medicine Residency program utilizes a 13-block academic schedule. The intent of this program is to train within the framework of ABMS and ACGME guidelines to optimize each resident’s ability to achieve excellence in emergency medicine
PGY1
1 block Orientation (JULY)
New as of 2022 a block filled with team building, lectures, simulation/cadaver labs, ED Shifts creating a foundation to get your residency training off on the right foot.
3 blocks Emergency Medicine
Our blocks are grouped by AM or PM shifts so there is consistency to promote a good sleep schedule and routine. You may also have 1 to 2 Observation Unit shifts during the day blocks.
1 block Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Residents on these blocks get first dibs on all pediatric patients in the department. 1 of those months includes 4 ride-alongs with Toledo Fire Department Paramedics (Peds/EMS block).
1 block Peds EMS
Peds ER shifts and Observation Unit shifts; EMS requirements
2 block Trauma SurgeryFloor
We work side by side with the surgery residents to take care of our trauma patients.
1 block MICU
This is a new change as of 2020. By request of the residents, we added one extra month of MICU to the curriculum for more ICU experience during the first year of residency. We work closely with the Internal Medicine residents during this block.
1 block Observation Unit (AKA Extended Treatment Unit or ETU)
The ETU is run by the EM interns and EM faculty. This is a unique experience that allows us to see beyond when we admit a patient from the department. No other services or senior EM residents rotate in this unit, allowing the EM interns significant autonomy with just the right amount of guidance from faculty.
1 block Pediatric ICU
We see the sickest of the sick kids. We also work alongside the pediatric residents and learn from dedicated PICU faculty.
1 block Anesthesia/Ultrasound
The goal of this month is to become comfortable with intubations in a controlled setting as well as formal and informal ultrasound training in the ED. Tube in the morning, US Lube (US Gel) in the afternoon!
1 block Obstetrics
Our focus is on deliveries and seeing consults from the ED.
PGY-2
5 blocks Emergency Medicine
1 block ED-Selective Rotation – IR and Vascular Access
X number of shifts in the ED, Y number of shifts in the Interventional Radiology Department, Z number of shifts circulating with the Intravenous Access Team
1 block in the Emergency Medicine at Mercy Health – St. Charles
This is our only off-site designated rural/community emergency medicine experience. 15 minutes away from St. Vincent.
1 block Pediatric Emergency Medicine
1 block EMS
This block is to optimize second years being prepared to start flying at the beginning of their third year and a focus on completing all of the requirements to be approved by the AeroMed committee. A non-flyer track available.
1 block of Medical ICU
1 block Trauma Surgical ICU
New this recent year based on feedback from residents and working with the surgery residents and trauma surgery attendings. You will respond to trauma alerts and priorities and round daily on the trauma ICU patients.
1 block Neurocritical Care
We are also part of the Stroke Response team during this month. You will become ENLS certified for these months. (Neurosurgery In-house moonlighting available for eligible residents during PGY2.
PGY-3
9 blocks Emergency Medicine
If you choose to fly with Life Flight, you will have longitudinal flight shifts during these months.
1 block Pediatric Emergency Medicine/Teaching
1 block Elective
This rotation is completely up to the resident. Residents may do a self-study block or submit a request to do an out rotation approved by GME.
1 block ED/Combo
1 block Medical ICU
Out-of-house moonlighting is available and encouraged by the program during PGY-3 year (for eligible residents
Supplemental to clinical curriculum the program offers a formal didactic series:
- Weekly Grand Rounds, occurs on Wednesday mornings and provides five hours of protected lecture time from 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Grand Rounds usually consists of lectures and presentations from residents, faculty, staff and guest lecturers. A mix of case presentations, lectures, x-ray and ECG readings, medicolegal review and lively, interactive discussion keep the mornings from becoming boring. The 5th Wednesday of a month residents participate in off-campus Team Building events.
- Monthly – Journal Club is also held during Grand Rounds. Each month our Research Director, Dr. Plewa, assigns resident articles and facilitates discussion and critical evaluation. A few times a year, articles are selected focusing primarily on Pediatrics. Journal Club is an informal way to remain current in the literature and to learn to critically evaluate published studies.
- Trauma Lab is another asset for our Emergency Medicine residents. An attending directly supervises while residents perform procedures such as intraosseous access, diagnostic peritoneal lavage, transvenous pacing, chest tube placement, emergent thoracotomy, cardiography, cricothyroidotomy, retrograde intubations, and more. This is a great opportunity to improve your procedural skills.
- Once a month Simulation training is also provided to enhance the residents’ skills on certain procedures for care of critically ill patients, obstetrics care, and cardiac arrest cases. There are specific simulation goals for each program year. This program has dedicated faculty and weekly hours to give residents an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned and a chance to teach medical students.
- Oral board simulations provide good practice for the third-year residents and also an opportunity for PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents to observe a mock exam case. Once a month, an attending will present a simulated oral board exam case to a PGY-3 resident during Grand Rounds… This nerve-wracking experience is incredibly helpful for learning.
- Monthly exams are administered periodically Using web-based question banks This provides a great preparation for the annual in-service exam as well as for the Emergency Medicine written boards.
- Online Emergency Medicine Education and Board Preparation is provided and utilized throughout training from multiple sources including: ACEP/EMRA, ROSH Review, EMRap, , EMsono, Hippo EM, ECG Weekly