Emergency Medicine/Internal Medicine Combined Program
The opportunity to complete residency training in both Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine in one combined, five year program is available at few institutions throughout the country. The Combined Emergency Medicine/Internal Medicine Program at Allegheny General Hospital offers 30 months spent in Emergency Medicine and 30 months in Internal Medicine. The faculties of the respective departments are responsible for supervising and teaching residents as they rotate through the combined program.
Years 1, 2, and 3 of training concentrate more on broad based and critical-care aspects of emergency and internal medicine. In years 4 and 5 of training, residents refine patient care, administrative and EMS skills and assume leadership roles in both departments. Multiple electives are offered, and ample research opportunities are available through both disciplines.
To see the Internal Medicine Residency Site click here.
Residency Program Goals
Major Goals of Year 1
The major goals set in the curriculum for year 1 residents are to:
Establish a strong foundation in the broad field of medicine with emphasis on history-taking and performance of physical exams. Learn to formulate appropriate individual patient treatment plans. Become certified ATLS, ACLS, PALS, and Neonatal Resuscitation providers. Learn basic clinical techniques in treating emergency patients. Become familiar with Emergency Department daily operations and roles of emergency medical technicians, paramedics and nurses. Develop sound charting practices and become familiar with quality-assurance methodology.
Major Goals of Years 2 and 3
The major goals set in the curriculum for years 2 and 3 of the residency are to:
Refine skills in individual patient evaluation, management and decision-making, with emphasis on life-threatening disorders as well as chronic illnesses. Develop major manipulative skills necessary to care for non-threatening and life-threatening disorders. Develop a role in the education of medical students and junior house staff. Have exposure to and active participation in emergency medical services (EMS) and medical command. Become fully certified as an ACLS instructor.
Major Goals of Years 4 and 5
The major goals set in the curriculum for years 4 and 5 of the residency are to:
Develop and refine skills in multiple-patient management. Function as "team leader" in the management of patients with life-threatening disorders. Develop management skills concerning clinical administrative function and medical, legal, and quality-assurance issues. Develop increasing knowledge and involvement in emergency medical systems, including responsibility for ground and air medical command. Provide consultations to primary-care practitioners, and surgeons in the management of medical problems. Become knowledgeable about the concepts of research. Each resident will be expected to formulate a research project in the field of emergency medicine or internal medicine. This can involve bench or clinical research or the writing of case reports, case conferences or collective reviews. Develop a special interest in an area of clinical care and/or research common to emergency medicine and internal medicine. This can be enhanced by arranging a six-month mini-fellowship during the PGY-4 year. Graduate physicians who are adequately prepared and eligible for certification by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Mini-Fellowship
The mini-fellowship allows a concentrated block of time for the resident to pursue a special area of clinical care or research interest. The following are suggestions for topic areas of study during the mini-fellowship.
- EMS
- Toxicology
- Sports Medicine
- Research
- Geriatrics
- Pulmonary
- Administration: ED administration, IM administration, QA and health policy
- Women's Health: Ob/Gyn, rape crisis center
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Education/Computers in Medicine
- Adolescent Medicine
- International EM: Policy and research
