Academic Department, IU Department of Emergency Medicine

We pride ourselves in creating a non-abusive work environment that fosters, as opposed to threatens, intellectual curiosity. Since 1985 our residents have worked a unique circadian schedule that assists physiologic wellness and avoids long blocks of night shifts. Resident's participating in the Emergency Medicine Residency program will abide by requirements for resident work hours as outlined by the program requirements for Emergency Medicine published by the Residency Review Committee. This entails the following stipulations:

1. Residents in Emergency Medicine training programs will not work more than 80 hours per week when averaged over a two-week time period.

2. Residents will not be on call in the hospital more frequently than every third night (averaged over one month). For the majority of on-call rotations this averages every fourth or fifth night. Residents on call for more than 24 hours must have an adequate opportunity to rest and sleep.

3. Residents should have at least one 24-hour period off duty each week. On rotations such as Intensive Care Units where continuity of care is critical, the resident may be expected to participate in brief work rounds on a daily basis.

4. While on duty in the Emergency Department, the resident's shift will not exceed 12 continuous hours. Emergency Medicine residents will have no more than 6 consecutive shifts scheduled in the Emergency Department and will have a period of time off between each shift commensurate with the scheduled shift duration.

EM Resident Requirements / Responsibilities

CLINICAL DUTIES IN THE EMTC
(on EM rotations)

R1.............................45-55 hours per week

R2, R3......................41-44 hours per week

Our residency adopted a unique circadian schedule in 1985, one year after the faculty had done so. Shifts flow in a progressive fashion over 6 days (7am-4pm, 8am-5pm, 2-11 pm, 3-midnight, 5pm 2am and end with a single 11pm-7am shift. This allows the resident to never have to shift their circadian rhythm, and has been found to be the best physiologic schedule to deal with night shifts. Off service R2 and R3 residents assist in coverage of the 3 p.m. to midnight shifts unless rotating on services with on-call responsibilities. R3¹s are scheduled for a 2-11 pm teaching shift in which they serve as the first line staffers for medical students and off-service R1¹s. The residents have developed a special Life Line flight shift so that flights do not interrupt patient care responsibilities in the ED.

EM R1's are also scheduled for 2 flight shift/month in order to facilitate LifeLine Orientation and ride alongs.

Chief Residents work 2 less shifts per month.

DIDACTIC PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS

R2.........
1 Grand Rounds
2 Student / Intern Lecture (optional)
1 M&M Conferences
2 EMS Lectures
1 Combined EM/Peds or EM/Trauma Lecture

R3.........
1 Grand Rounds
1 M&M Conference
1 Combined EM/Peds or EM/Trauma Lecture
4 Student / Intern Lectures
2 EMS Lectures

All Grand Round Presentations are previewed by the Program Directors to assist with style and content issues.