Emergency Medicine Clerkship Syllabus

Course Overview

The Emergency Medicine Clerkship provides medical students with comprehensive exposure to the principles and practice of emergency medicine. This clinical rotation emphasizes rapid patient assessment, differential diagnosis, resuscitation skills, and the management of acute medical and surgical conditions across all age groups.

Students will develop proficiency in the unique approach required in the emergency department, where patients present with undifferentiated complaints requiring timely evaluation and treatment. The clerkship focuses on developing the clinical reasoning, procedural skills, and communication abilities essential for effective emergency care.

Learning Objectives

By the completion of this clerkship, students will be able to:

• Evaluate patients with undifferentiated chief complaints in the emergency department setting, prioritizing life-threatening conditions.
• Perform a focused history and physical examination appropriate to patients' presenting complaints.
• Formulate appropriate differential diagnoses for common emergency department presentations.
• Order and interpret diagnostic studies appropriate for the emergency setting.
• Develop management plans for patients with common emergency conditions.
• Demonstrate proficiency in essential emergency procedures appropriate for their training level.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, and other healthcare team members.
• Articulate the role of emergency medicine within the healthcare system and its relationship to other specialties.
• Discuss ethical issues unique to emergency medicine, including informed consent, confidentiality, and end-of-life care.

Clerkship Schedule

The emergency medicine clerkship consists of clinical shifts, didactic sessions, simulation experiences, and self-directed learning activities designed to provide a comprehensive emergency medicine educational experience.

Clinical Shifts

Students will complete approximately 15-16 clinical shifts (8-9 hours each) distributed across various times (day, evening, night, weekends) to provide exposure to the full spectrum of emergency department presentations. Clinical shifts will be divided between:

• Main Emergency Department: 10 shifts
• Pediatric Emergency Department: 3 shifts
• Urgent Care/Fast Track: 2-3 shifts

Didactic Components

Weekly educational sessions will cover core emergency medicine topics, including:

• Case-based discussions
• Resuscitation scenarios
• Procedural skills workshops
• ECG interpretation
• Radiology for emergency physicians

Simulation Sessions

Students will participate in high-fidelity simulation experiences designed to develop skills in critical care decision-making, teamwork, and procedure performance in complex scenarios.

Core Competencies

Required Clinical Experiences

During the clerkship, students should have the opportunity to evaluate patients with the following types of presentations:

Cardiovascular Emergencies

• Acute coronary syndromes
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Acute decompensated heart failure
• Hypertensive emergencies

Respiratory Emergencies

• Acute respiratory distress/failure
• Acute exacerbations of COPD and asthma
• Pulmonary embolism
• Pneumonia

Neurologic Emergencies

• Acute stroke
• Seizures
• Altered mental status
• Intracranial hemorrhage

Abdominal Emergencies

• Acute abdominal pain (appendicitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis)
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Acute bowel obstruction

Trauma

• Burns
• Head injuries
• Orthopedic injuries
• Soft tissue injuries

Pediatric Emergencies

• Fever in young infants
• Dehydration
• Acute respiratory distress
• Seizures

Procedural Skills

Students should demonstrate proficiency or at least familiarity with the following procedures:

Assessment Methods

Student performance will be evaluated using multiple assessment modalities to provide a comprehensive evaluation of their emergency medicine knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors.

Clinical Performance Evaluation

Residents and attendings will complete standardized evaluations for each clinical shift. These will assess:

• Patient care skills
• Medical knowledge
• Procedural abilities
• Communication skills
• Professionalism
• Teamwork

Written Examination

A standardized multiple-choice examination covering core emergency medicine topics will be administered at the end of the rotation.

OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination)

Students will participate in a simulated patient encounter to evaluate their ability to assess, diagnose, and manage common emergency presentations.

Case Presentation

Each student will prepare and present an interesting case seen during the rotation, including a concise history, physical exam, differential diagnosis, evidence-based management plan, and relevant literature review.

Procedure Log

Students will maintain a log of procedures performed or observed during the clerkship.

Required Readings and Resources

The following resources are recommended for successful completion of the emergency medicine clerkship:

Core Textbooks

• Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide (latest edition)
• Emergency Medicine Secrets (latest edition)

Online Resources

• AccessEmergency Medicine
• Emergency Medicine Cases (emcases.com)
• EMDocs (emdocs.net)
• REBEL EM (rebelem.com)

Guidelines and Protocols

• American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Clinical Policies
• Emergency Medicine Practice evidence-based reviews

Clerkship Policies

Attendance

Attendance at all scheduled clinical shifts and didactic sessions is mandatory. Any anticipated absences must be communicated to the clerkship director and assigned resident at least one week in advance. Unexcused absences will result in remediation requirements and grade penalties.

Professional Conduct

Students are expected to maintain professional behavior at all times, including respectful interactions with patients, families, and colleagues. Appropriate attire should be worn during clinical shifts, and hospital identification badges must be displayed.

Duty Hours

Students will work shifts of approximately 8-9 hours. No student should work more than 24 consecutive hours, and overall weekly hours should not exceed 60 hours. Adequate rest between shifts is essential for patient safety and learning.

Patient Documentation

All patient charting must be completed before the end of each shift. Student notes should be reviewed and countersigned by the supervising resident or attending physician. Students must familiarize themselves with the electronic medical record system.

Patient Care Responsibilities

Students should see patients independently, perform appropriate histories and physical examinations, formulate differential diagnoses, and develop preliminary management plans. All patient care must be discussed with and approved by the supervising resident or attending physician before implementation. Students should communicate directly with consultants as appropriate.

Remediation

Students who do not meet the minimum performance standards in any area will be identified for additional support and remediation. The specific remediation plan will be determined by the clerkship director based on the student's individual needs. Students may be required to complete additional clinical shifts, focused study assignments, or skills workshops to achieve the required competency level.

Students with unsatisfactory professional conduct, unexcused absences, or ethical lapses will be referred to the appropriate medical school administration for further action according to institutional policies.

Contact Information

Clerkship Director: Dr. Sarah Mitchell, MD, FACEP

Email: em.clerkship@university.edu

Office: Emergency Department, Room 423

Office Hours: By appointment