Department of Internal Medicine

The Residency at a Glance

Residents in Internal Medicine assume the major role in the care of almost all patients on the Medicine Service of the University Hospital and a large number of the patients at Overton Brooks VA Medical Center. Experienced faculty members are readily available at all times for advice, but residents are encouraged to make their own decisions in patient management. In addition, the opportunity to teach medical students adds immeasurably to the resident's own education.

Twenty-nine first year positions are offered through the National Resident Matching Program: 15 Categorical Medicine, 10 Preliminary Medicine, and 4 Medicine/Pediatrics. Fellowships are available in the Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Hematology/Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and Rheumatology.

The 36-month residency is divided into month-long blocks on a variety of general medicine, subspecialty, and ambulatory care services.

Clinical Rotations

Continuity Clinics are attended during all rotations.

*Subspecialty rotations include Cardiology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Geriatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology, Neurology, Pulmonary Diseases, and Rheumatology.
Rotations in Cardiology, Endocrinology, Geriatrics, Infectious Diseases, and Nephrology are required.

**General Medicine Ambulatory and Consultative Care includes night float, general medicine admit/consult service; Primary Care Clinic; Pre-operative assessment Clinic; and experiences in Psychiatry, Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, and Gynecology.

Ward Rotations
General Medicine teams at the University Hospital and VAMC are composed of a faculty attending, an upper level resident, two PGY-1 residents, and one to three medical students. While the attending physician has ultimate responsibility for patients, the residents serve as the primary physicians, making independent management decisions and performing common medical procedures. In-house call at LSU is every fifth night and every fourth night at Overton Brooks VAMC. The average patient census is 15-20 patients per team.

Subspecialty wards are operated at the University Hospital, including Cardiology, Hematology/Oncology, and Nephrology. These consist of the faculty attending, one fellow, one upper level resident, one or two PGY-1 residents, and several students.

Intensive Care Unit
MICU teams are supervised by a fellow and a faculty attending. During critical care rotations at the University Hospital and Overton Brooks VAMC, residents become skilled in ventilator management, hemodynamic support, and the placement of various monitoring catheters. Faculty critical care specialists are at the forefront of a number of emerging therapies in the care of seriously ill patients.

Medical Subspecialties
During three years of training, residents in the categorical program spend at least one month in each of the major medical subspecialties. Residents work directly with faculty and fellows in providing consultation for all clinical services in the hospital, and attend subspecialty clinics at both the University Hospital and Overton Brooks VAMC.

Emergency Room

The Department of Emergency Medicine oversees the operation of the only Level 1 Truama Center within a 200 mile radius. First year residents in Internal Medicine spend 1 month in the ER. Under close faculty supervisions, they gain invaluable experience in the assessment, stabilization, and initial care of adult medical, surgical, and trauma emergencies.

General Internal Medicine Clinic
All residents are assigned to the General Medicine Clinic one-half day per week, where they provide continuity care for a panel of patients under close faculty supervision. Additional general ambulatory care experience is gained through rotations each year in the Primary Care Clinic, where appointed patients not in the continuity care system are evaluated and treated.