BASICS

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How many residents are in our program? 

We have three awesome classes of 12 residents each! 

 

How many patients does AMC ED see annually?

Busiest ED in New York state with around 76,000 adult visits per year and 21,000 pediatric visits. Three million person catchment area serving an urban, suburban and rural patient population. 

 

What is the patient demographic at AMC?

Being the only level 1 trauma center and only Pediatric Emergency Department within a very large catchment area, our patient population is diverse. We see patients from urban, suburban and rural environments spread among 25 counties. We see medically complex, sick patients transferred from other facilities for our high level speciality care. We see a mix of blunt and penetrating trauma on a regular basis. 

 

Which EMR do you use? 

The entire Albany Health System uses EPIC

 

Which hospitals do your residents rotate at?

We spend the vast majority of our time at AMC! However during third year, we rotate through a community site, Saratoga Hospital. We also have an elective rotation opportunity in New Zealand! Our residents also have time to moonlight at different community hospitals across the capital region. 

 

What is your department like?

Our department really is a family and we’re proud of that. From attendings to residents, nurses, techs, we all hang out outside of the hospital very frequently and we are all on a first name basis! 

 

What fellowships does AMC offer? 

AMC currently offers ACGME accredited fellowship programs in ultrasound, EMS, and surgical critical care and non-ACGME accredited programs in resuscitation and emergency critical care and administration. 

 

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE 

 

What’s the resident schedule like? 

During each 4 week ED block, our PGY1s typically work 20 shifts, PGY2s 19 shifts and PGY3s work 18 shifts. All shifts are 9 hours (7am - 4pm, 2:30 -11:30 pm, 10 pm - 7am). Our chiefs are pretty awesome getting our schedule out about 1-2 months in advance, which makes it easy to schedule life events or asking for a specific weekend off. If something comes up last minute, someone will almost always volunteer to switch shifts with you! 

 

Do you follow circadian schedule?

We do not have a strict circadian schedule because our residents like the flexibility and greater ease of trading shifts if needed. We will keep circadian changes in mind when creating schedules. 

 

Are interns “allowed” to see sick patients? 

100% ! From day one, our interns are encouraged to jump into sick rooms, managing airways, doing their own procedures and getting comfortable with unstable patients both adult and pediatrics. During these times, the interns will also have a senior or attending as support. While the interns focus on getting comfortable in the department, the seniors step up to increase their patient volumes, teach medical students and run the department. 

 

What is the team organization in your ED? 

The ED is divided into multiple teams with the two main ones being Red and Green teams. Green Team is responsible for the traumas while Red Team with medically sick patients. Each is staffed with an ED attending physician 24/7. PGY1 and PGY3s work on the Red  Team while PGY2s work on the Green Team responding to the traumas all year. 

 

CURRICULUM

 

How are traumas managed between EM and surgery?

AMC is the busiest Level 1 trauma center in NY state. Patients who are Leveled traumas are seen by both ER residents and trauma residents. Trauma airways are always managed by our PGY2 or PGY3 EM residents are sitting in the trauma zone. Procedures are split depending if it is an even or odd day (even day goes to trauma, Odd day goes to EM). Our entire second year is dedicated to traumas as we sit in the zone where all the traumas are triaged and taken care of. This leads to a very robust trauma experience. 

 

Let’s talk Crit Care. 

Our critical care experience is one of our strongest pillars of our program. Our schedule includes multiple months of ICU throughout the first two years including rotations in - Medical ICU, Surgical ICU, Pediatric ICU, Cardiac care ICU. We work alongside multiple EM attendings that are also dual boarded in Critical Care. Our very own program director Dr. Sean Geary plays both these roles on a daily basis! We have our resuscitation critical care fellows rotating in the department as well. As a result, we are extremely comfortable with critically ill patients. 

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What is your pediatric experience like? 

We have a dedicated block of pediatric ED shifts in our first year of residency. Aside from that, every resident is scheduled shifts in the Peds ED throughout each block. This structure leads to both concentrated time learning pediatrics in addition to longitudinal exposure. 

 

What resources are available for interns to adjust to residency? 

During the first month of residency, interns are doubled up together on their first couple of shifts to ease their transition into the department. Additionally, multiple PGY2 and PGY3s volunteer to be on the “Helping Interns Train Team (HITT)” where they help the interns out with orders and department flow during shift. 

 

WHO WE ARE 

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Do your residents get together outside the hospital? 

Of course! We love grabbing drinks after shifts, getting breakfast together after an overnight shift, going on hiking trips, trying out all the new restaurants/breweries/wineries in the area. Some of our favorite program wide events are our annual paintball day, post ITE exam celebrations, annual holiday party, graduation, and many more! 

 

What common interests would you say many of your residents share?

Hiking, running, trying new breweries, skiing, going to bonfires at Dr. Molly Boyd’s farm, trying out the new food scene in Troy

 

Why should I train at AMC?

If you are interested in working in a high energy, fast paced, extremely high acuity emergency department that cares for a wide diverse population in addition to creating lifelong friends, Albany Med is the place for you! 

 

How can I find out more about our program? 

You can follow us on Instagram @Albanyemresidency and Twitter @AlbanymedEM. We also will be having frequent virtual Meet and Greets with residents on Zoom throughout the summer and fall (you can find the most up to date schedule on our Instagram and Twitter accounts). Please do not hesitate tor reach out to us and email the chiefs with any specific questions.