Pulmonary and Critical Care MICU

Duration: 4 weeks

Period offered: All

Distribution of student time:
70% inpatient care
20% clinical rounds
10% conferences/lectures

Enrollment/Period: 4 maximum, upon availability, July - May

Average number of patients seen each week: 4

On-call responsibility: 1 week night shift; 3 week day shift

Prerequisites: Completion of core clerkships; must be 4th year medical student

Clerkship Objectives:

• Increase student use/review of the medical literature as part of patient care (report to attending).
• Enhance the student's knowledge and skills pertaining to interviewing, physical examination, other patient interactions, interpretation of data, clinical judgment, and procedures (i.e., L.P., thoracentesis, paracentesis and central line insertion) swan-ganz catheter placement, placement monitoring and intraarterial line placement.

Evaluation:

• Quality of care given (including clinical judgment)
• Number of patients given care
• Level of knowledge
• Level of skills

Methods to be used in student evaluation:

• Observation of performance by faculty and house officers
• Assessment of write-ups/reports

Description:
This elective will introduce the student to the care of the critically ill patient. Students are assigned to the Medical Intensive Care Unit and will assume responsibility for patient care under the guidance of a senior staff physician, Pulmonary and Critical Care fellow, and medical resident. There is supervised participation in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Daily attendance at rounds and consultations in other intensive care units provides theoretical and practical experience