Pre-requisite: Open to Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, and Internal Medicine residents at the PGY2 level or above
Duration for Elective: 4 weeks is preferred but shorter rotations can be arranged if needed
Rotation Director: Thomas Dancoes, DO FACEP
Educational Objective
To provide GME learners with clinical experience in a rural critical access hospital. Emergency and Acute Care Medicine Learners will gain experience in evaluating a broad variety of emergent conditions, developing differential diagnoses, and coordinating management plans. They will become familiar with the unique challenges and opportunities of practicing in a critical access hospital with a rural population. They will gain skills in multitasking, communicating with patients, coordinating expeditious transfer of patients when required, and working with an interprofessional team while gaining practical skills specific to the rural/remote Emergency Department environment.
Experiences and Procedures
- Evaluate and treat patients from diverse backgrounds, of diverse ages, and with a broad range of pathologies in a rural emergency setting
- Review the indications for and appropriate performance of emergent procedures including but not limited to intubation, thoracostomy, paracentesis, thoracentesis, fracture and dislocation reductions, laceration repair, and procedural sedation. To assist in these procedures at the bedside if presented with patients who require them.
- Work alongside and become familiar with the operation of rural EMS (Emergency Medical Services) and provide medical control for the local services
- Work in a cohesive team of emergency medicine physicians, APPs (Advanced practice providers), and nurses, providing high-quality care.
Housing
Houlton Regional Hospital does not offer learner housing. Interested residents may seek reimbursement for housing expenses through the MERGE Collaborative. See the MERGE Housing Reimbursement Policy for more information.
