Home  |  Library  |  PRIME  |  Newsroom  |  E-mail  |  Directions

Emergency Medicine

Goals and Objectives

The Clerkship in Emergency Medicine is designed to provide the student with the introduction to the clinical skills and ability to interpret data required for the appropriate diagnosis and management of patients requiring emergency and/or critical care. The medical activities appropriate to emergency care include:

  1. Acquisition of a chief complaint driven history
  2. Performance of a thorough physical examination
  3. Generation of differential diagnosis
  4. Monitoring and assessment of vital function through a variety of technical devices
  5. Prevention of mortality and morbidity through early recognition of life threats
  6. Resuscitation and stabilization
  7. Acquisition and analysis of biochemical, physiologic, laboratory and radiologic data
  8. Determination of etiology of the disease state
  9. Institution of therapy

The students will also be introduced to performance of basic emergency procedures under supervision such as:

  1. Phlebotomy
  2. IV insertion
  3. Arterial Blood Gas
  4. NG Tube insertion
  5. Suturing
  6. Splinting
  7. ECG and X-ray interpretation

In addition to these activities, emergency medicine involves attention to record keeping and the establishment of a relationship with the patient and the family as they cope with the emotional trauma of emergencies, critical illness, dying and death.