Trauma / Critical Care

Rotation Director          Jeffrey S. Young, M.D., FACS

Attending:                           J. Forrest Calland, M.D.

           

Curriculum and Resident Responsibilities

The Trauma Service consists of five residents, a fourth-year General Surgery resident (Chief of Service), two Trauma/Critical Care residents (2nd year categorical General Surgery resident, 3rd year Emergency Medicine resident), and two Acute Care interns (1st year Surgery resident, 1st year Emergency Medicine resident), and medical students.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the trauma rotation all medical students should be able to:

  1. Discuss the pathophysiology of traumatic injury and the immune response
  2. Describe the initial evaluation, diagnosis, and stabilization of the injured patient
  3. Describe proper diagnostic and treatment algorithms for all thoracic, abdominal, spine and orthopedic injuries
  4. Discuss the treatment of all major critical care complications including ARDS, renal failure, and sepsis
  5. Become familiar with the performance of major trauma/critical care bedside procedures.

 

Responsibilities

Medical students are expected to participate in all clinical and educational activities on the trauma service. As part of the team students should:

  1. Participate in all inpatient and outpatient care to multiple and severe adult trauma patients
  2. Participate in all critical care service to critically burned patients
  3. Assist with trauma surgery and general surgical operations.  You should be completely prepared for every OR case prior to scrubbing in.  This means that you have reviewed the patient's history and know the results of all laboratory, radiology, and pathology studies.  In addition you will be expected to read about the patient's disease process, the treatment options, and the details of the proposed surgery, including relevant anatomy and the surgical techniques involved.
  4. Accompany residents on consultative services to the Emergency Department and hospital for evaluation of the injured patient
  5. Attend the two "war games" sessions conducted each week. From these sessions the students are expected to become comfortable with the diagnosis and treatment of emergent and urgent changes in patient condition.