"Can you be an EM resident and still experience "Wellness?" (pdf)

“Wellness” describes a state of psychological and physical well being

1.Physician wellness in EM has been defined as, “those skills, attitudes and beliefs that allow one to enjoy practicing EM for a long period of time, while at the same time allowing balance in one’s life”2. The concept of physician wellness acknowledges that multiple stressors related to the practice of medicine threaten this balance. Imbalance can lead to unhealthy feelings and behaviors, emotional distress, burnout, and impairment.

"Fellowship Training - To Stay or Go" (pdf)

A brief overview of various fellowships available to graduating emergency medicine residents appeared in the last Newsletter. This article explores the factors that influence the selection of fellowship programs. Two recent fellowship graduates discuss what fellowship training has meant to their careers.

"Fellowship Opportunities in Emergency Medicine" p. 14 (pdf)

While the end of residency seems far off for senior emergency medicine residents, and even farther off for junior residents, it is never to late to begin planning for after graduation. For most, completing an emergency medicine residency leads to a career in independent practice in a hospital emergency department.

"Developing a Mentorship Relationship" (pg 14) (pdf)

Teacher, guide, counselor. Regardless of what they are called, many people consider a mentor essential to a professional’s success. This may be especially true for people contemplating or entering a career in academic medicine.

"Teaching Procedural Skills in the Emergency Department: See Some, Practice Some, Do Some, Teach Som

Senior emergency medicine residents may find teaching procedural skills to junior residents part of their responsibilities in the Emergency Department (ED). The Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine lists 53 major procedures that residents should become competent to perform during their training tenure.

"The Resident as a "Bedside Teacher" (pg 16) (pdf)

Teaching can be thought of as a planned learning activity 1. By contrast, the Emergency Department (ED) is unpredictable. Clinical teaching in the ED frequently takes place in a busy, even chaotic arena, and requires a special approach to bedside teaching as compared with other, more controlled patient-care settings. New emphasis has been placed on bedside teaching with the advent of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Outcome Project 2.

"A Medical Liability Primer for Residents" (pdf)

Medical malpractice lawsuits are a fact of life for medical providers. Hospitals, physicians, nurses, emergency medical technicians, and others who provide patient care can be named as defendants in medical liability lawsuits. The risk of residents being sued is unknown but because residents may become targets of a lawsuit, they must have a basic understanding of medical liability and learn strategies to mitigate the risk.

"Academic Portfolios for Residents" (pdf)

The portfolio concept has been in existence for hundreds of years. Artists and architects have used portfolios to display their best work to potential patrons and clients. The intended purpose then was to secure work, as well as to document their accomplishments and abilities in a concrete definable manner.

"Resident Conference: Getting the Most Out of the Curriculum" (pdf)

The Residency Review Committee-Emergency Medicine (RRC-EM) mandates that each residency training program should provide at least 5 hours of “planned educational experiences,” each week. Emergency medicine (EM) residency  programs must satisfy this requirement in ways that are both stimulating and educational for a relatively diverse group that includes new residents still formulating their basic knowledge base and experienced residents refining their skills for unsupervised practice.

"ABEM Certification and Recertification Update" (pdf)

“The fall of Zion to the Machines” mumbled the resident as I prepared to give our program’s annual lecture on “how to prepare for the ABEM boards,” including the new Emergency Medicine Continuous Certification (EMCC). Disregarding the popular culture metaphor, I went on to explain how the new and improved ABEM exam format will be more interesting, educational and ultimately better, for adult learners and EM as a specialty.

"Core Competencies Maintenance Following Residency Graduation" (pdf)

During your residency, a number of strict RRC-EM requirements were followed that ensured education in six defined core competencies: Patient care, Medical knowledge, Interpersonal skills and communication, Professionalism, Systems-based practice, and Practice-based learning

"How to Prepare an Effective CV" (pdf)

For most senior residents, the curriculum vitae (CV) serves as the official summary of professional accomplishments, as well as a personal introduction to prospective employers. Emphasis should be placed on neatness, clarity, and organization. Carefully proofread for typographical errors and grammar problems. A well-constructed CV will look fine on high quality bond paper off a laser printer; the expense of a professional printer is unnecessary.

"Hospital Credentialing - What EM Residents Should Know" (pdf)

The credentialing process is something most residents give little thought to during residency. This is understandable given the hectic nature of residency. The need to meet day-to-day residency requirements supercedes concerns about credentialing which to most residents is a distant matter to be addressed some time in the future. The fact is time moves quickly and the future is often here sooner than expected.

"The General Competencies: What EM Residents Need to Know" (pdf)

The General Competencies have finally arrived at an emergency medicine residency near you. Like a trailer for a movie with no release date, the competencies have been hovering on the horizon for a few years now. Why is knowledge of the competencies important to the residents reading this section of the SAEM Newsletter? If you are a new junior resident, a graduating senior who will be working with EM residents, or somewhere in between, the General Competencies will serve as the basis for all resident evaluations.

"To Fellowship or not to Fellowship" (pdf)

As we move through another academic year, the question of fellowship training may be a consideration of graduating EM residents. You may have many questions:

"An Argument for Professionalism" (pdf)

Social values of our current market-driven, financially competitive economy make it difficult for physicians to act without self-interest and remain focused only on patient need. Because of these circumstances, it is particularly dangerous to take professionalism for granted. At stake is our integrity and, with it, our power. In each preceding modern era, insightful and caring physicians have persevered through their own challenges to professionalism. Now it is our turn.

"Resident Research: The Basics & Beyond" (pdf)

Scientific investigation is the basis for and foundation of medical practice, including emergency medicine. Although not everything we do is derived from careful scientific inquiry, research has advanced our knowledge and allowed us to help patients in every aspect of care. Consider a typical patient who presents to the ED with a severe headache.

"Ways To Get the Most Out of Your Residency" (pdf)

As you have learned by now, emergency medicine residency training is an extremely busy time. There are many competing interests for your time, including your family, residency, and outside interests. The goal of this article is not so much to give advice on time management, as it is on successful strategies to maximize the training you are receiving.

"Preparing A Morbidity and Mortality Conference" (pdf)

Morbidity and mortality (M&M) conferences are a mandated activity at virtually all EM residency programs, with 94% routinely holding M&M conferences as part of their academic curricula.1 While these conferences vary immensely in structure, they share a common purpose: to track and discuss medical errors in an environment that facilitates learning, encourages accountability, and promotes leadership and academic development.

"What is the Emergency Medicine Scholarly Activity Requirements?" (pdf)

We are sensitive to the many demands placed on resident physicians during their post-graduate training. Why then to we require the completion of a scholarly project during the residency?

"My Two Cents on Scholarly Activities" (pdf)

The other day I received by e-mail a survey from a resident who was completing his scholarly project requirement. The survey asked a number of personal questions and questions about my medical history. The survey was not accompanied by a cover letter explaining the purpose of the survey, a copy of IRB approval to query physicians across the internet about very personal information, a section that details the privacy and confidentiality issues, or what prior research has revealed about this particular issue.

"Preparing a Didactic Presentation" (pdf)

Preparing a formal presentation to deliver to your peers and attendings can be a very intimidating task for the resident, especially the first time. Public speaking remains one of the most anxiety  provoking activities that we face. The following reflects a philosophy about approaching the mandated "lecture" activity and using it as an opportunity for personal growth while providing an invaluable educational experience to your audience.

"Fellowship Training - A Necessity in Today's Academic World"
You now are at the point in your training where you are beginning to believe that there is life after medical school and residency. This is an exciting time; you are about to get your first job as an attending emergency physician. The next decisions you make may be critical and could shape and define the remainder of your career. Before making these decisions and selecting a position you should ask yourself several important questions. First, define as best you can your long term career goals and aspirations.

"ACGME Core Competencies"

In February of 1999 the ACGME endorsed the concept that professional development be evaluated in competency rather than strict exposure to a defined curriculum. There are six competencies that are considered to encompass the practice of medicine. Since then, there has been extensive debate as to how medical educators can attest to competency and which instruments should be used to assess them.

"Moonlighting and the Emergency Medicine Residents"

EM residents are eligible to gain full unrestricted licensure in their state after 1 or 2 years of postgraduate training. With this comes the ability to engage in extracurricular activities for financial gain ("moonlighting"). While the pressures to engage in moonlighting activities may be great, and the immediate financial rewards large, the EM resident should consider several of the downsides and consequences of moonlighting prior to jumping into this activity.

"Personal Digital Assistant in the Academic ED"
Personal digital assistants (PDA’s), also known as handheld computers, are available from a variety of companies (including Compaq, Palm, Sharp, and Sony) in many versions, with different bells and whistles, such as color screens, wired and wireless internet connectivity, and modems. In my opinion, the most important point in choosing a model for academic EM utilization is making sure you have enough memory.

"The Clinical Director in Academic ED"

As much as academic Emergency Medicine has a three-part mission of education, research, and clinical care, it is the clinical operation that is generally most visible (and of course, most exciting for national television audiences). Running the operation takes a significant effort, and in most academic ED's, that role falls primarily to the Clinical Director (CD).

"Report from Resident Member"

Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall in an important meeting? Well, here’s your chance. Only you will be welcomed and treated as an equal member of the group, and not expected to hang out on the sheetrock. If this sounds appealing to you, I encourage you to apply for the resident position of the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Board of Directors.