Emergency Medicine Residency: A Typical Day

Written By: Sharon Cretsinger

In the United States, emergency medicine is its own field and specialty. This is unlike some European countries that follow a different model for treating acute patients. In these models, the same emergency services are provided by anesthesiologists and general surgeons.  Physicians in the US who wish to practice emergency medicine are required to undertake an emergency medicine residency in order to become qualified.  The EM residency Washington DC normally begins after the completion of a qualified medical school program of study.

Emergency Medicine Residency Washington DC:  What to Expect

Individuals who might be wondering what to expect in the course of a typical day in this kind of residency program will quickly learn that there is really no such thing as a "typical day" in emergency medicine.  In these times, issues with health coverage and the lack thereof have caused emergency rooms to be packed to capacity or even overflowing in large metropolitan areas.  The number of private practice physicians who are no longer accepting many insurance programs, particularly those that are government subsidized, are also contributing to the growing number of individuals who are seen daily for emergency care.

Physicians in an emergency medicine residency program Washington DC can expect to see a large number of patients every day.  These cases may range from broken bones and even more serious traumatic injuries to mild cases of common infectious diseases.  Many of the patients having minor ailments are in the ER because they do not have access to a primary care physician in the community.  In these instances, the specialty of emergency medicine overlaps considerably with that of urgent care.  The emergency medicine resident, under the supervision of a licensed physician, is expected to ultimately make a disposition for each of the cases having the outcome of either treatment and discharge or hospitalization.

Because of the volume of patients seen and the variety of case types presented, it is necessary for a physician considering an emergency medicine residency program DC to be willing to see a large number of patients daily and develop a diverse skill sent in many practice areas.

Choosing the Right General Surgery Residency

Written By: Rachael Kaine

To become a skilled and in demand surgeon, you must first complete a general surgery residency. This will prepare you with the skills and training needed to move forward in a career that will allow you to help patients on a daily basis and make a difference within the community. Before this can happen, you’ll need to find, apply to and match with a residency program from one of the many well respected residency programs offered within the United States. Some steps that can help you to make this selection process much simpler are listed below.

General Surgery Residency Common Questions

Do I want to learn in an urban or rural location? This question remains relevant for your intended career after studying a well, as the location in which you learn can determine what type of location will be the best fit for you as a professional. Though the skills necessary are the same for both locations, you’ll come into contact with a wider patient variety and a larger number of clients in an urban area than in a rural one, and training will often reflect this.

Does my academic record have bearing on what programs I can apply to? The short answer is that no, this doesn’t impact the programs that you can apply to, but your academic history could impact the schools and programs that will accept you, especially if you’ve scored low marks or have come from a location that isn’t nationally ranked high. While your grades and your past will make a large decision about whether or not you get into a program of your choice, a lot of it has to do with your overall personality and ambitions, too.

More Unusual General Surgery Residency Questions

Will a fellowship be sought after completing a general surgery residency Washington DC? If this is the case, and you’ll be looking for a more focused surgery specialty, you should choose a program that offers one - or that is affiliated with locations that do. The amount of people that choose to complete fellowships before going into practice is increasing, as is the number of people applying for them… so things can get a little competitive.

How committed are you? When trying to select and narrow down choices for a residency, you should consider your level of commitment and desire to complete this type of program. This includes taking your own needs, your family’s needs and your capabilities into consideration before moving forward with your plans for residency. The majority of your time during this phase of your life will be spent working with a great deal of the remainder spent sleeping or studying… it’s a lot to handle for many people.

Preparing for an Internal Medicine Residency

Written By: Allison Zahorcak

If you're a third-year medical student with a specialty career in mind, you're likely looking forward to applying for your internal medicine residency. Though the path ahead is challenging, you know it's well-worth the work. As early as possible, you need to begin preparing your medical resume for the application process.  In addition to the ERAS, you will need to ask for recommendation letters and begin preparing your personal statement. The key to easing the stress that is coupled with finding a residency is to prepare for the process. Work closely with your administrative office and advisers.  The biggest mistake medical students make when preparing for residence is not taking the time to prepare. Medical schools across the country understand the importance of this career step and have a slew of procedures, assistance, and benchmarks laid out to ease this process.

Don't make it more stressful than it needs to be!  Use the resources you can and look for more if you need additional help.

What to Look for in an Internal Medicine Residency Program Baltimore

Like most things in life, not all programs are created equal.  This is especially true for those who already have a specialty in mind.  If you have your heart set on gastroenterology, it's important that your applications and pursuits reflect that desire.  Again, this comes back to work with your adviser during the ERAS application and resume building phases. But more than that... it's important to research the options and interviews that become available to you.  On one hand, you may be offered the perfect position but fail to meet standards during the interview process.  On the other hand, you may find that the facility you've been invited to doesn't meet your standards.  That's why it's very important to do your research (which you should be used to as a medical student).

No matter what specialty you have in mind, it's important to examine the standards and curriculum of the programs you're invited to interview for.  Your residency is a defining time in your life and the education you receive should be on a university level.

 

 

 

What Is a Cardiology Fellowship?

Written By: Allison Zahorcak

A cardiology fellowship trains student doctors to become cardiologists. Cardiologists protect and serve one of the body's most important organs: the heart. From disease prevention and diagnosis to working with patients to maintain their health with abnormalities and other permanent heart conditions, these passionate physicians undergo intensive training in order to prepare them for life as a cardiologist.

Training is often comprised of various modules and trials that educate student doctors in the various methods of prevention and treatment needed to address the complexity of the heart. During this time, students will study and shadow other doctors as well as spend time working directly with doctors and patients across many different departments in order to get an accurate perspective for the field of cardiology.  This training typically takes three years or more, depending on the course of study.  Students must apply to programs and undergo interviews in order to be placed within a cardiology program.  Talk to your medical school about the application process if you're interested in looking for fellowships in cardiology.

Who Should Apply for a Cardiology Fellowship DC?

If the cardiovascular system fascinates you, a cardiology fellowship Washington DC could be an amazing fit. Generally speaking, these programs last for about three years to become a general cardiologist.  If you wish to further your career to include general surgery or other specialties, you can expect to have a few more years of fellowship under your belt once you begin your cardiovascular disease fellowship Georgetown

Cardiology is an amazingly rewarding career. Not only do you get the opportunity to work with patients and better their heart health, you are able to save hundreds of lives by addresses cardiovascular issues before they begin to threaten patients. With heart disease on the rise, this field of medicine couldn't be more vital. In fact, cardiology has always been one of the first fields of medicine to stretch the limits of care and look for new and innovative ways to conquer heart failure and other life-threatening conditions.

To learn more about cardiovascular studies or to find a program in your area, visit ttp://www.medstarhealth.org/.

 

 

 

What Is an Emergency Medicine Residency?

Written By: Allison Zahorcak

An emergency medicine residency is a 3 year program that trains medical students to prepare for careers in emergency rooms, trauma centers, and other intensive care related treatment centers. These programs are designed to cover a wide variety of emergencies such as burn care, heart attack, and broken bones. However, there is no limit to what an emergency room doctor can see throughout their time. For this reason, doctors that practice within trauma centers find that they continue to learn throughout their career and are pushed to further their knowledge on a day to day basis.  It's safe to say you'll never have a boring day at the hospital.

What to Consider Before Applying for an EM Residency Washington DC

Emergency care is no walk in the park.  Not only does the emergency room test your skills and further your knowledge as a doctor every day, it's a competitive place that's not for those who like their personal time. If you cannot handle the schedule of an emergency room doctor, then applying for an emergency medicine residency Washington DC probably isn't the best choice for you.  It's important to take your time and imagine your life in that field of medicine.  A residency is the first step in your medical career and in many ways, defines the path of your study and research from there on out.

On the other hand, individuals with high-energy and a thirst to further their medical knowledge often blossom in emergency medicine. If the knowledge of the human body fascinates you and you're constantly looking for a new challenge, you will thrive in the intense environment of the trauma centers.

In addition to physical weight of the decision to apply, the application process takes time.  Once you begin to near your third year of medical school, it's time to start thinking about your residency.  From recommendation letters and med school reviews, the application process is stressful for many students. However, it's well worth the work!  You've done the work of medical school, now the time to take it a step further.

What Is a General Surgery Residency?

Written By: Allison Zahorcak 

A general surgery residency prepares students for the surgical specialty that cares for the abdominal organs. This includes hundreds of different surgeries such as procedures for cancer treatment, stomach, and intestinal issues, as well as trauma surgery.  Though the majority of a general medicine residency Georgetown is focused on abdominal procedures, it is not meant to suggest an absolute.  Surgeons who complete a general residency DC may find themselves treating a variety of wounds on various areas of the human body.

In fact, general surgeons have the option to work in the emergency room and/or specialize in on of the following areas.

(We borrowed this clever list from healthcommunities.com):

• cardiothoracic
• general surgery
• gynecologic oncology
• ophthalmic (eye)
• orthopaedic
• pediatric
• urology
• colon and rectal
• gynecology and obstetrics
• neurological
• oral and maxillofacial (jaws and face)
• otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat)
• plastic and maxillofacial
• vascular

Altogether, that's 14 different possible specializations and 14 different careers paths that can put you near the causes and care you feel truly passionate about. By the end of your residency, you will understand how to diagnose and lead preoperative, operative, and post-operation care for your patients.  Many consider surgery to be the epitome of medicine, as you are intimately trained in a variety of different subjects to ensure you can conduct the aforementioned tasks. At the very least, you will never have a boring day.

Career After General Surgery Residency DC

General surgeons are lucky.  They can enjoy quite an array of different careers.  From emergency rooms and trauma centers to specialization, surgeons who complete these programs choose their career largely on their personal interests.  Some enjoy the every surprise that is the emergency room, where others would like to delve into a deep field of study and create a name for themselves.  Whatever you preference, a general surgery residency Georgetown will prepare you for an exciting life as a surgeon.

Serving the DC area is a great privilege as well as an exciting opportunity to care for a very diverse demographic.  If you're interested in making surgery your everyday life, the next realistic step in your education is a general surgery residency DC.  To learn more about programs in your area, visit: http://www.medstarhealth.org/.

Family Medicine Residency Interview Strategies

Written By: Rachael Kaine

Preparing for a Family Medicine Residency Interview

The most important parts of your life aren’t always things that you can prepare for, but a residency program to conclude your medical school career is one of the ones that you can do your best to contemplate. There isn’t a way for you to go into it 110% prepared, but there are many things that you can do in order to give yourself the best possible chance for success. A family medicine residency program Baltimore will help to prepare you to give patients the best possible care throughout your career, but it all comes down to the interview.

When you’re getting ready to go to this interview, ensuring that you cover your bases is very important. This means making solid travel arrangements, planning your trips so that you are not overbooked or overwhelmed, and taking (or providing) all documents, information and requested materials. Even though the programs themselves cover the same types of skills, requirements may differ when it comes to grades, letters of recommendation, and personal information or resume status. The best way to make sure that you’ve got what you need is to consult with a program representative or visit the program’s website; an example of which can be found at http://www.medstarhealth.org/education/affiliated-hospitals-2/medstar-franklin-square-medical-center/family-medicine-residency/.

Things to Remember During a Family Medicine Residency Interview

After being called in for an interview, it is imperative that you don’t make any mistakes. This means being honest, not forgetting information, ensuring that you are professional and polite throughout the duration of the interview and simply making a case for your admission into the program. You should always feel free to take notes, and ask questions. Many people feel that they simply need to observe and respond when appropriate, but being involved and inquisitive will show your interest in what the program has to offer.

Not only do you have to be a good fit for the family medicine residency Baltimore program, but the program has to fit you, too. This is important because if you’re unhappy or feel like you’re not going to get the most out of your time in the residency, then maybe you should look elsewhere. The interview process is a time for the program members to find out a lot about you, but it’s also a good time to ask questions, observe everything and see what the other residents and even some of the patients will be like.

The years you spend in this program working hard and training to be the best are very important, and even though the interview may seem long and overwhelming, just take things as they come and try to stay positive and excited. After all, the best years of your medical career will begin soon after your family medicine residency program ends.