Internal Medicine Education & Research

PROGRAM GOALS AND DESCRIPTION

Goals

The major goals of the Creighton University Internal Medicine Residency Program are to educate physicians in the art, science, and skills necessary for excellence in the practice of Internal Medicine, while emphasizing the individual values and qualities which are essential to the development of a competent, compassionate specialist in Internal Medicine.  The goals include:

Performance Qualities

  • Accurate and comprehensive knowledge of the biomedical sciences
  • Promote core values of professionalism, respect, honesty, altruism, compassion, integrity, and hard work in a multi-cultural setting
  • Personal qualities of compassion, justice, and scholarship
  • Support a positive environment conducive to learning, based on teamwork, trust and fairness

 

Learning

  • Mastery of the skills of history taking, physical examination, and information analysis, synthesis, and interpretation
  • Attain clinical skills and attitudes with a rigorous academic foundation
  • Development of critical intelligence
  • Accumulation of clinical experience
  • Learn the principles and knowledge necessary for the practice of General Internal Medicine balanced with a comprehensive exposure to the medical subspecialties
  • Improve the health and quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve

 

Technology

  • Appropriate use of laboratory diagnostic procedures
  • Skillful use of pharmacologic, chemical, and physical agents
  • Mastery of essential diagnostic and therapeutic procedures

 

Objectives

The objectives of the Internal Medicine program are to prepare residents for successful practice in General Internal Medicine or to continue training in subspecialty programs.  Residents should be prepared to sit and successfully complete the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certifying examination, as well as to practice competently and independently without supervision.

Description of Program

The comprehensive three-year Internal Medicine training program prepares residents for the ABIM certifying examination with options for practice as a specialist in Internal Medicine, for additional training in one of the subspecialties of medicine or for continued education in other areas of health science. 

A one-year training program that provides a broad experience in Internal Medicine is available for residents who plan to enter other specialty programs. 

The Internal Medicine residency program uses both inpatient and outpatient facilities at Creighton University Medical Center (CUMC) and the Omaha Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC).  The major strengths of the program include an excellent clinical and educational experience in general and subspecialty medicine, a faculty who are dedicated to the goals of resident and student education, and an environment that fosters a humanistic approach to patient care.


Program Curriculum

Each component of the Internal Medicine residency program has a specific curriculum with the educational objectives and evaluative process defined.  The general structure of the program is as follows: 

Post-Graduate Year 1: 

  • 6-7 months on the General Internal Medicine services at CUMC or VAMC
  • 3-4 months of subspecialty service
  • 1-2 months on Night Float
  • 1 month of Ambulatory Block
  • 1 month Elective in Research
  • All categorical and preliminary year residents attend a half-day continuity clinic every week
  • Complete 4 Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercises (Mini-CEXs), 2 inpatient and 2 outpatient
  • Attend supervisors’ retreat
  • Participate in simulation workshops that cover mock codes and central line placement, peripheral IV placement, blood draws and ABGs

Post-Graduate Year 2: 

  • 4-5 months as a supervisory resident on the General Internal Medicine services at CUMC or VAMC
  • 1-2 months in the Intensive Care Unit
  • 1 month Ambulatory Block
  • 1-2 months may be assigned on Night Float 
  • Electives in Primary Care, Allergy, Dermatology, and Research
  • Subspecialty service assignments with primary care patients and consultative responsibilities

Post-Graduate Year 3: 

  • 1 month in the Intensive Care Unit
  • General Medicine supervisory rotations
  • Subspecialty rotations
  • 1 month of Ambulatory Block
  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Electives in Dermatology, Allergy, Research, and the Institute for Latin American Concern (ILAC) where residents join a medical team in the Dominican Republic on a service mission 
  • Board review session
  • Presentation of Senior Resident Lectures
  • Cover back-up call schedule at CUMC and VAMC.  (If the number of patients exceeds the limits for both the PGY1 and PGY2, the PGY3 assigned for the call period is notified and will assume responsibility for any additional admissions.)
  • Provide back-up coverage in the event that another resident is ill

Categorical Residents:

  • Graded and progressive responsibility for patient care, patient management, and supervision of residents over the continuum of the program
  • Residency training is primarily an educational experience in patient-centered care.
    • At least 1/3 must occur in the ambulatory setting. 
    • Weekly Continuity Clinic Panel - 130 distinct half-day outpatient sessions, extending at least over a 30-month   period, devoted to longitudinal care of the residents’ panel of patients (not applicable to preliminary year residents)
    •  At least 1/3 must occur in the inpatient setting.         
  • Exposure to each Internal Medicine subspecialty and Neurology
  • An assignment in Geriatric Medicine
  • Opportunities for experience in Psychiatry, Allergy/Immunology, Dermatology, medical Ophthalmology, office Gynecology, Otorhinolaryngology, non-operative Orthopedics, Palliative Medicine, Sleep Medicine, and Rehabilitation Medicine
  • Participation in weekly simulation sessions when assigned to Ambulatory Block rotations
  • Progressive comprehensive workshops in simulation for mock code, central line, peripheral IV, blood draws and ABGs
  • Attend at least 60% of all departmental core curriculum conferences and Grand Rounds
  • Attendance at monthly M&M 
  • Attendance at daily report at CUMC and VAMC
  • Attendance at all teaching conferences provided by the services to which they are assigned 
  • Take the In-Training Examination (ITE) each year (excluding preliminary year residents)
  • Completion of the Mini-CEX requirement
  • Completion of the Johns Hopkins Module Requirement