Medical Student Electives - Critical Care Medicine

Rotation Director:  Steven Miles, M.D.

Duration:  One month

Maximum number of students per four-week period:  Two

Candidates:  Senior students of approved allopathic and osteopathic medical schools

Evaluation:  Oral and written

Description:

This rotation is designed to acquaint the fourth-year medical student with clinical problems frequently observed in intensive care units, as well as therapeutic interventions routinely used in the care of critically ill and injured patients.  The entire period is spent in the Intensive Care Unit where the student is assigned patients.  The student works under the direct supervision of one of the four intensivists.  He/she is expected to participate in the care of the patient.  There may be opportunities to perform invasive procedures, depending on the patient’s status/situation.

The emphasis is placed on comprehensive aspects of critical care, e.g. pathophysiology of shock, respiratory failure, neurologic and septic complications and the moral and legal aspects of life-sustaining treatments.  The student is expected to participate in discussions related to hemodynamic data, vasopressor/vasodilator drugs, blood gases, 0² transport and utilization, ventilator management and nutritional support, etc.

Daily Schedule:

7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.                Patient workup
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.            Teaching rounds/radiology rounds
11:00 a.m. – Noon                    Lecture/case discussion
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.                Patient workup
4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.                Sign-out rounds