Emergency Medicine Clerkships
Introduction
The Emergency Medicine clerkship at Stanford has become a very popular rotation amongst Stanford University and visiting medical students. At Stanford, students act as the primary physician for their patients and coordinate all aspects of their care under the direct supervision of the Emergency Medicine faculty and senior residents. Students are expected to work a total of 14 eight-hour shifts during a 28-day period. They will enjoy two weekends free of clinical duties. The shifts include time in the adult Emergency Department and pediatric Emergency Department. Students also receive training in “mock codes” in our simulator; and an optional EMS ride-along.
Sixteen hours of lectures are given by Emergency Medicine faculty to the senior medical students on Thursday mornings. Students are also required to attend the Emergency Medicine residency conferences on Wednesday mornings. There are separate reading assignments that are based on the award-winning emergency medicine textbook, “An Introduction to Clinical Emergency Medicine” (by Stanford EM Residency faculty members: G. Garmel & S. Mahadevan). A student case presentation, based on a clinical scenario they encountered on their rotation, is required at the end of the rotation. A final multiple question examination covering the reading material and lectures is also required as part of the rotation.
Visiting medical students are welcome. Potential visiting students are encouraged to contact us as early as possible with their request (see details below).
Clerkship Objectives
Patient Care
Develop proper interviewing techniques
Perform directed physical examinations
Develop comprehensive differential diagnoses
Initiate resuscitation and stabilization
Selected procedural and wound care techniques
Proper patient disposition and follow-up
Medical Knowledge
Identification of the acutely ill patient
Practice evidence-based medicine
Development an evaluation plan
Test interpretation
Development of a therapeutic plan
Treatment of common acute problems
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Establishing rapport
Effective presentation
Professional interaction with consultants
Professionalism
Respect
Ethical behavior
Sensitivity to cultural issues
HIPAA regulation compliance
Systems-based Practice
Assessment of undifferentiated patient
Appropriate referral(s)
Primary care for the uninsured and individuals without PCPs
Understanding of emergency procedures
Approach to Clinical Management
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Abdominal pain
Pediatric fever
Trauma
Vaginal bleeding
Orthopedic injuries
Medical Student Lectures
The Stanford Emergency Medicine faculty have developed a medical student lecture series specifically tailored for senior medical students.
These lectures occur each Thursday morning and are mandatory for students rotating in the clerkship. There are both hands-on workshops; as well as interactive lecture sessions.
Clerkship lecture topics include, but are not exclusive to, the following core emergency medicine fields:
SuturingSplinting
Approach to shortness of breath
Approach to chest pain
Pediatrics/ PALS
EKG Analysis
ACLS Workshop
Approach to abdominal pain
Ultrasound skills workshop
Trauma workshop
Airway skills workshop
Neurology
Toxicology
Evaluation and Grading
The following is a breakdown of the different components used to calculate your final course grade for the Emergency Medicine rotation. Stanford students are graded Pass/Fail. Visiting students are graded as mandated by their home institution. Clinical Evaluation:
Emergency Medicine faculty members are provided a student evaluation form for each of your clinical shifts. The different areas of performance that will be evaluated include:
History/Exam Skills
Clinical Decision Making
Fund of Knowledge
Compassion/Humanism
Professionalism
Written Examination:
The written examination is approximately 25 questions long and is based on the lectures and assigned reading.
Case Presentation:
Each student is required to present a clinical case with a 15 minute discussion.
Attendance:
Attendance at Emergency Medicine resident conferences and medical student lectures are mandatory and are considered in final grading.
Visiting Students
If you are a medical student interested in doing an away rotation at Stanford (Surgery 313A), Kaiser Santa Clara (Surgery 313D), or Santa Clara Valley (Surgery 313C) Emergency Departments, follow this link to the Stanford University School of Medicine Visiting Clerkships page, where you'll find all the information you need to apply.Visiting students are encouraged to contact us as early as possible. You will be scheduled by the School of Medicine approximately 3 months in advance of the clerkship. Stanford University students must have first priority; then visiting students are scheduled on a first come-first served basis.
Note: Prospective students need to apply for clerkships through both the School of Medicine and the Emergency Medicine offices.
More information on Stanford University School of Medicine clerkships can be found at the Clinical Clerkships website.
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