Frequently Asked Questions

About

ACMC Emergency Medicine

What are the central goals and beliefs of the ACMC Emergency Medicine Program?

The four central beliefs of our program, and the focus of our program leadership, are:

1. To train expert emergency physicians

2. To model, support and encourage physician wellness

3. To provide individualized career preparation

4. To value and pursue a diverse family of physicians who will provide our patients the highest quality of care and enhance physician-patient partnerships

What are some of the key characteristics of the patient population seen in your ED?

The emergency department sees more than 110,000 patients per year.  Of these, 25% are of a high acuity nature (ie, ESI Level 1 and 2).  Our overall admission rate is about 30% of patients seen.

Pediatric patients make up 34% of our patient population, and we have just under 5,000 Level I trauma activations each year.

Fast facts about our program:

Our Residents:

·         49% Women

·         Mix of partnered and single residents

·         24 different medical schools represented

·         46% from out-of-state medical schools

·         Great friends for life

Our Faculty:

·         50% Women

·         18 different residency programs represented

·         #1 Priority = Teaching

Strengths of our Program:

·         1:1 Faculty-Resident clinical teaching

·         Non-traditional graduated responsibility/Acuity

·         Active learning

·         Mentorship

·         ED PharmDs

·         3 months elective

·         One site

·         Resident Directors

·         Flexible Scheduling

·         New Simulation Center

·         Community Outreach

·         Disaster Med

·         ED Crisis Workers

·         EM Intensivists

·         5 year First time pass rate written: 98%

·         5 year First time pass rate oral: 100%

·         Written and Oral Board Exam Prep

Pediatrics:

·         36,650 pediatric patients in 2016

·         New 22 bed Pediatric ED 2017

·         PED shifts on every EM month

·         Pediatric experience all 3 years of training

·         8 PEM Faculty

·         First year 3 weeks floor pediatrics, 1 week Nursery with neonatal resuscitation experience, 2 weeks dedicated PED

·         Second year 4 weeks PICU

·         New Didactic lecture series

·         >200 annual Level 1 Pediatric Trauma patients

How does Trauma work?

·         Approx. 5,000 Trauma patients annually

·         Currently the only Level 1 Trauma Center for South Side of Chicago

·         2/3 Blunt, 1/3 Penetrating

·         Great relationship with trauma service

·         2 months on Trauma service

·         EM Residents share responsibility to run trauma codes

·         Plenty of procedures

Ultrasound:

·         Orientation: U/S Course

·         Didactic curriculum: U/S courses

·         10 Faculty RDMS/Fellowship trained

·         Fellowship director - Mike Lambert, MD

·         Longest continuous U/S fellowship 1996-2017

·         First Year Residents complete 2 week U/S rotation, >80 scans performed

·         Average resident 200-300 scans/residency

·         Philosophy that US is tool for daily use in ED

Simulation:

·         Simulation Director Maggie Putman, DO

·         New Simulation Center 2018

·         Integrated into the EM curriculum

·         Focus on high acuity, low frequency scenarios

Our Graduates:

·         Capable in all EM environments

·         Graduates practice all across country

·         Alumni Network grown over 40 years

·         65% Private practice

·         35% Academic/Fellowships

·         2014-2017:  Chicago Area about 50%, also Midwest (IN, WI, MN, MI, OH, MO, IA), California, Texas, Locums, North Carolina, Arizona, Utah, Alaska

EMS:

·         EMS Director Sean Motzny, MD

·         Director of Disaster Medicine Liz Regan, MD

·         EM2: EMS/Administration rotation

·         Didactic presentations

·         EMS academy

·         Online medical control for 12,000 runs annually

Program Changes:

·         March 2017-New Program Director, Elise Lovell MD

·         Former PD Dr. Dan Girzadas Jr. now Medical Director of Faculty Development

·         Starting 2018, increase to 14 residents/year

·         Creation of new Academic Roles:   

            –Disaster Med/Preparedness

            –Assistant Director Med Student Education

            –Assistant US Fellowship Director

·         12 New Faculty joined us over past year

Changes- Bricks and Mortar:

·         New Pediatric ED opened March 2017

·         New Simulation Center opening December 2017

·         Approval for construction of new Adult ED 2017