MED 474 - MICU Elective

[152 Hours]

Students are expected to develop the skills necessary to obtain a history and perform a complete physical examination as required to care for patients with respiratory complaints and critical illness. Trainees are also expected to gain familiarity with consultation in the management of pulmonary and ICU patients. Students obtain exposure to the diagnosis and care of disorders of the lungs, upper airways, and chest wall, as well as gain experience in the coordinated care of critically ill patients. Students should gain familiarity with the management of common clinical presentations of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine. In addition to skills in differential diagnoses and patient care, they should develop the ability to perform selected procedures safely, interpret primary date appropriately, and understand the indications and limitations of more specialized testing. Specific educational aims include developing expertise in diagnosis and management of patients with respiratory diseases and/or critical illness, reinforcing basic concepts in respiratory and cardiovascular physiology, understanding the role of the Pulmonary specialist as a consultant and primary care provider, learning the diverse roles of the general internist in the ICU, providing primary care for medical patients, coordinating care in complicated patients with multiple medical problems necessitating multi-specialty physician input, providing medical consultation in the care of critically ill surgical patients, becoming familiar with procedures and technological devices utilized in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients in Pulmonary/Critical Care, and gaining experience in complicated ethical and social issues.