Anesthesiology

Duration: 2 - 4 weeks

Periods offered: September through June

Distribution of student's time:
40% inpatient care
40% outpatient care
20% conferences/lectures

On-call Responsibility: One call optional

Enrollment/Period: 5 maximum, upon availability

Prerequisites: None

Clerkship Objectives:

• To provide exposure to the broad scope of anesthesia practice.
• Learn the pharmacologic and physiologic basis of anesthesia; the principles of preoperative patient assessment and devising an anesthetic plan which accommodates preexisting disease; the basics of airway management; the indications and techniques for the placement of invasive hemodynamic monitors (including arterial lines, central venous lines, and swan-ganz catheters) and to interpret the data which they provide; the indications and techniques for the performance of regional anesthetic techniques(i.e. spinal, epidural, and other blocks).
• Enhance knowledge and skills in the intraoperative and postoperative management of patients.

Evaluation:

• Quality of care given
• Level of knowledge
• Level of skills and interpersonal relationships

Methods used in student Evaluation:
Observation of performance by faculty and house officers.

Description:
Each student works with a resident and staff anesthesiologist to provide anesthetic care for patients. Students participate in the preoperative assessment of their patients, I.V. and invasive line placement, airway management and intraoperative and postoperative patient care. The students' responsibilities advance as proficiency is demonstrated and culminates with the student fulfilling the role of an anesthesia resident.

Students will be exposed to anesthesia subspecialties, including cardiothoracic, neurological, obstetrical, pediatric, vascular and critical care medicine and pain management.

The clerkship includes active participation in a didactic program which consists of morning reports, grand rounds, morbidity and mortality conferences and core curriculum lectures.