Stanford School of Medicine
Emergency Medicine– In The Department of Surgery

International Scholars Curriculum

Clinical Observation in the Stanford University Medical Center Emergency Department SEMI VSP scholars will observe emergency medical practices (under the direction of an Emergency Medicine attending physician) in the Stanford University Medical Center Emergency Department. The Emergency Department is prepared and equipped to provide comprehensive emergency care to patients of all ages and to treat acute illnesses and injuries. An Emergency Medicine faculty physician is present 24 hours a day.

Stanford UniversityHospital is an EMS designated Level I Trauma Center and serves as a regional trauma center for Northern and mid-California, as well as adjacent states.

Emergency Medicine Core Curriculum Conference

SEMI VSP scholars will attend weekly Stanford/Kaiser Emergency Medicine core curriculum conferences every Wednesday from 8 am until noon. Conferences include lectures on essential topics in emergency medicine and are presented by residents or faculty. Topics include Radiology Rounds, Case Presentations, Grand Rounds (lectures given by visiting speakers well-known in Emergency Medicine), and Morbidity and Mortality Case discussions in Trauma, Emergency Medicine, and Pediatrics.

Life Flight Helicopter

SEMI VSP scholars will also have the opportunity to fly along with Stanford’s Life Flight Medical Transport Program. The Life Flight Medical Transport Program is available to transport critically ill or injured patients, providing high-quality medical care during patient transport. Emergency critical care transports by ground vehicles and fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Life Flight utilizes both nurse-led and physician-led transport teams depending on the acuity of the patient.

Paramedic Ride-Along

SEMI VSP scholars will also have the opportunity to ride-along with Firefighter/EMT’s and Paramedics on 911 emergency calls as part of the Palo Alto Fire Department Ride-Along Program.  The ride-along will provide scholars a unique opportunity to observe, participate and gain insight into the functioning of emergency medical services systems and the pre-hospital care of patients.

Journal Club

SEMI VSP scholars will also attend a monthly Emergency Medicine Journal Club, which occurs on the second Tuesday evening of each month. Journal articles of interest to the practice of emergency medicine will be presented and discussed with emphasis on critical review of study design, methods, and analysis. Scholars will have the opportunity to present journal articles if they so desire.

Certification in ACLS, PALS and ATLS

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

The purpose of the ACLS course is to allow visiting scholars to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to resuscitate an adult in cardiopulmonary arrest. ACLS is based upon the recommendations of the American Heart Association and is the standard of resuscitative care in adults. A one-day preparatory course reviews ACLS theory and skills required for completion of the provider course. The course includes case-based “ megacode ” participation, dysrhythmia recognition, and written and practical evaluations. Both ACLS provider and BLS (Basic Life Support) provider cards are awarded after successful completion of the course.

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

A two-day course (developed by the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics) which teaches early recognition of pre-arrest syndromes and appropriate treatment of the pre-arrest states in children. Also emphasized is BLS sequences, indications for intubation of pediatric patients, and establishment of priorities for vascular access in infants and children. Appropriate fluid management in pediatric shock is reviewed as well as recognition and treatment of dysrhythmias. Neonatal resuscitation is also covered. A written evaluation is given on the last day. A PALS provider card is awarded after successful completion of the course.

Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)

A two-day course developed by the American College of Surgeons for training hysicians in the management of trauma patients. This comprehensive course teaches the participant to perform rapid and accurate initial assessment of trauma patients, to carry out resuscitation and stabilization based upon well-established protocols, and to determine the patient’s need for transport to another, higher level facility. A cadaver lab will provide hands-on practice of emergency procedures such as thoracostomy, cricothyroidotomy, and venous cutdown. A written and case-simulation exam is given on the last day. An ATLS provider card will be awarded after successful completion of the course.An ATLS manual is provided.Enrollment is subject to availability.

Surgery 220: Introduction to Emergency Medicine (Sep-Nov only)

Surgery 220: Introduction to Emergency Medicine (Stanford University School of Medicine) is a 10-week course taught by the faculty of the Stanford Division of Emergency Medicine. Lectures and/or practical sessions will cover the following areas of emergency medicine: Airway management, Cardiac emergencies, Respiratory emergencies, Trauma, Emergency Medical Services, Shock, Toxicology, Abdominal emergencies, Orthopedics, OB-GYN, Pediatrics, Infectious diseases, Environmental emergencies, Ophthalmology, ENT, Neurology, and Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

Special Projects

Visiting scholars will have the opportunity to carry out one or more independent projects, under the guidance of our faculty members, in any of the following areas:

Depending on the duration of study and availability, SEMIVSP scholars may arrange for clinical observation in many subspecialties.These electives may be tailored to the individual scholar’s particular interests.

Trauma Surgery

Scholars will observe the care of trauma patients as part of the Trauma Surgery team (Emergency Medicine intern and Trauma Surgery chief resident).  The scholar will follow and observe the Trauma team during the initial evaluation and treatment of trauma patients in the emergency department (ED) and also during in-patient care on the surgical floor and surgical intensive care unit (SICU).Scholars will have the opportunity to observe emergent operative management of trauma patients in the operating room.Scholars will attend the weekly Trauma Conference and bi-weekly Trauma M&M.  Call is optional.

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

Scholars will observe the care of pediatric patients in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).  Scholars will also observe the care of children in the PICU by following the PICU team throughout their daily patient care activities: rounds, procedures, admissions, lectures, and conferences.Call is optional.

Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU)

Scholars will observe the care of medical patients in the adult intensive care unit (ICU). Emphasis will be placed on the management of respiratory failure, shock, multi-organ failure and sepsis.  Scholars will follow the ICU team throughout their daily activities: rounds, procedures, admissions, lectures, and conferences.  Call is optional.

Cardiac Care Unit (CCU)

Scholars will observe the care of cardiac patients in the ED and in the cardiac care unit (CCU). Emphasis will be placed on the management of myocardial infarction, arrhythmias and heart failure.  Fellows will follow the CCU team in their daily activities: rounds, procedures, admissions, lectures, and conferences.  In addition, scholars will have the opportunity to observe acute interventional treatment (i.e., patients with acute MI undergoing cardiac catheterization).  Call is optional.

 

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