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Emergency Medicine

Overview

Residents complete a one-month requirement in Emergency Medicine.  Attendings during this rotation are Altoona Hospital emergency medicine specialists.  There is significant opportunity for residents to adapt this rotation to their learning needs and/or desires.  Residents have the option to help design their own schedule for this rotation.  Emergency physicians are responsive to resident requests and some residents have chosen to participate in ground ambulance and helicopter transport teams. Altoona Hospital is a level two trauma center, which provides ample trauma experience.  All second year family practice residents become ATLS certified by taking the American College of Surgeons Advanced Trauma Life Support course.

Family practice call is kept to a minimum during this rotation.

Emergency room physicians give the residents autonomy to evaluate patients, but are readily available and always in the emergency room to teach, supervise procedures, etc.

Work hours during this rotation include 40 hours per week in the emergency department plus two half days in the family medicine office.  The 40 hours can often be scheduled as the resident chooses. but are to include at least one weekend shift per week and to reflect a variety of shifts (i.e. some days, some evenings and some nights).