Goals & Objectives

Clerkship Objectives

Throughout your rotation, your primary goal should be to develop skills in performing individual patient evaluations.  As a senior medical student, you should become thorough and efficient in the performance of history and physical exams and should begin to develop skills in the use of diagnostic tests, initiating treatment, requesting consultation, developing a treatment plan, and arranging appropriate follow-up.  Focus should be placed on providing high quality care, with an approach that will avoid misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of life threatening conditions.

You are expected to see a reasonable number of patients and begin to develop efficiency as you acquire a basic familiarity with common Emergency Department presentations.  The focus of your efforts should not be on the volume of patients seen, but on the efficiency and accuracy of individual patient evaluations.

Specific Objectives

  • Obtain accurate problem-focused history and physical exams
  • Recognize immediate life-threatening conditions
  • Recognize when patients should be appropriately referred to the Emergency Department
  • Recognize the importance of arranging appropriate follow-up plans for patients being discharged from the Emergency Department
  • Recognize the role of EM in the community, including access to care and its impact on healthcare, in general
  • Understand the indications, cost, risks, and evidence behind commonly performed ED diagnostic studies
  • Develop a basic understanding of procedures commonly performed in the Emergency Department, including: PIV insertion, laceration repair, EKGs, Foley catheter insertion, lumbar puncture, central line placement, nasogastric tube insertion, slit lamp exam, abscess drainage, intraosseous line insertion, bedside ultrasound exams, needle decompression, chest thoracostomy, endotracheal intubation, procedural sedation, orthopedic reductions, thoracotomy, cricothyroidotomy
  • Develop Patient Management Skills:
    • Develop a differential diagnosis when evaluating an undifferentiated patient
    • Create a diagnostic plan based on your differential diagnosis
    • Come up with a treatment plan
    • Monitor response to therapeutic interventions
    • Develop appropriate disposition and follow-up plans
  • Develop Presentation Skills:
    • Present cases in a complete, concise and organized fashion
    • Effectively communicate with consultants and admitting services