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Family Medicine

Emergency Medicine Education

This one-year residency program designates learners as a third-year resident in the Family Medicine/Emergency Medicine Program. Rotations include ICU, CCU, Trauma, Plastic and Emergency Medicine. Over the total three years of training, residents must complete a minimum of eight blocks of training in the emergency department with a minimum of four blocks in the third year. One of the eight blocks will include significant experience in emergency pediatrics, obtained at McMaster Children’s Hospital. Candidates are urged to make use of their elective time in the first or second year of their family medicine residency to enroll in some of the above rotations.

Expandable List

Residents can direct some of the schedule of their one-year emergency medicine training. However, certain rotations are considered mandatory and must be completed under any of the training formula.

A “typical” residency year would include:

  • 4 blocks – Emergency Medicine
  • 1 block – Emergency Pediatrics
  • 1 block – Community Emergency Medicine
  • 1 block – Trauma / Acute Care Surgery
  • 2 blocks – ICU
  • 1 block – CCU
  • 1 block – Selective
  • 1 block – Anesthesia
  • 1 block – Plastics/orthopedics

Selectives

Selectives are tailored towards the resident’s stated objectives and can be completed in a variety of formats, and approval is based on a set of criteria. In the past, selectives have included Toxicology in New York City (varying availability), or an additional block of Trauma, Emergency or Surgery.

Rotations may be tailored to your prior training and career goals, however, certain rotations are considered mandatory and must be completed. Rotations will include ICU, CCU, Surgery, Trauma, Orthopedics, Plastics and Emergency Medicine.

Please note: These are sample schedules. Communities and Academic Centers as well as rotation type can be modified.

Emergency medicine core content material is presented at the weekly academic day, which takes place on Thursdays. Core content topics include radiology, examination preparation, bioethics, and administration.

In addition, there will be multiple Simulation Sessions with high fidelity simulators through the academic year. Finally, there is a day in the Anatomy Lab practicing procedures on cadavers.

Academic day program includes:

  • Tintinalli Rounds
  • Procedural Skills Session
  • Practice Oral Examination
  • Practice Written Examination
  • ECG rounds

Residents are required to attend a monthly Journal Club. EMS rideouts will be performed during the Emergency Medicine block, 2 days.

Residents are expected to complete a research project on evidence-based medicine skills, for which they will search databases, critically appraise the articles and present the material at a resident research day. This may take the form of a CQI/QA project; literature search or a formal research design study. It is expected that residents will display competence in preparing, practicing and evaluating evidence-based medicine. Other aspects of scholarly work including teaching, interprofessional collaboration and leadership are also included / considered.

An ultrasound course following the national principles is offered in the early fall of the EM year. This course teaches the technical skills and didactic principles of Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS). The remainder of the course is spent scanning volunteers to achieve the required number of scans. We have ample faculty available to assist with attaining the required scans for full certification if unable during the course in ultrasound. A second advanced ultrasound course will be completed in the spring of the EM year. There are longitudinal options for POCUS on emergency medicine blocks.

At the start of the academic year each resident is connected to a Faculty Mentor to support learning and career goals. There are many opportunities to engage with our Royal College colleagues, including several social events. In addition, the annual Resident Retreat is organized with EM Faculty.

Applicants must have successfully completed two years of a Family Medicine Residency Program leading to certification by the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Applicants must also have written, or be eligible to write, the College of Family Physicians of Canada Certification Examination.