FAQs

Do the residents use handheld devices?

Every intern receives a new PDA at orientation. Password protected docking stations are available in the resident office. This enables residents to access reference texts, pharmacy programs, and med calc from any location. 



Will I be able to get a good fellowship?

Yes, contrary to popular belief you can get a good fellowship if you attend a community hospital residency. Over the past 15 years, 90 percent of our residents that pursued fellowship training found positions the first year that they applied in fields such as Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Hematology/Oncology, Pulmonary, Rheumatology, etc. Residents work closely with attendings from various subspecialties who have connections with fellowship programs around the country.



How many electives will I get?

Interns have at least 3 elective months each year to persue their interests. Senior residents spend approximately 6 months per year on elective. Residents are free to tailor elective time to their professional interests.



What can I take as an elective?

We sponsor electives in all major fields of internal medicine. During electives, residents typically work one-on-one with attending physicians both in the hospital and in outpatient offices. The teaching is individualized and superb.



How often will I be on call?

Interns on ward teams take call every 5th night and go home at 10 pm on weeknights; utilizing the night-float system thereafter. Interns in the intensive care unit take call every 5th night and stay overnight. On ward teams and in the intensive care unit, Senior residents take call approximately 5 shifts per month, also utilizing the night-float system after 10 pm on weeknights.   



I’m interested in becoming a hospitalist. Does your program provide training?

Yes. Our residency program has a hospitalist program which was begun in 2001. Residents in our program are afforded the opportunity to work closely with our eight hospitalist faculty while on their ward rotations. Each hospitalist serves as a team attending four months over the year. Additional elective time is available with our qualified and competent hospitalists where PGY II and III residents may spend one month the hospitalist consultation service which provides an opportunity for the resident to gain experience in hospital consultative medicine. Many of our recent graduates have pursued careers in hospital-based medicine.



What kind of critical care training will I see?

Our residents rotate through the medical intensive care unit three months in their first year. Residents develop the ability to confidently manage severely ill patients. Over time, our residents gain increasing responsibility for patient management in the intensive care unit. Two senior residents along with either a pulmonary or cardiology faculty attending conduct daily ICU rounds and at the bedside. A faculty member serves as the Director of the Critical Care Unit for the Residency Program, coordinating clinical experiences and teaching to insure comprehensive training in these essential skills. 



What are the general strengths of your residency program?

The Christ Hospital and it's internal medicine residency are committed to top quality patient care.
The Christ Hospital is ranked in the top 100 hospitals across the country in six categories in US News and World Report.
The creation of the hospitalist program which has enhanced the learning environment for residents.
Overall facilities for the program are highly rated. Residents report that The Christ Hospital offers a pleasant atmosphere for training. 
The program is in compliance with the RRC guidelines regarding hours and working conditions.
The residents receive considerable support from the subspecialty faculty.
A strong ICU rotation which provides excellent critical care experience. 

Will I get to do procedures?

Yes. At The Christ Hospital, the focus is on Internal Medicine. No procedures are reserved for fellows. Our residents perform central venous and arterial line placement, lumbar punctures, thoracentesis, paracentesis and tracheal intubations on hospitalized patients. PGY-1’s will be performing procedures while senior residents and attending physicians assist and supervise. In the outpatient clinic residents will perform joint aspiration/injection, bursal injection, abcess drainage, ear irrigation, and skin biopsy. Attending physicians supervise residents who will perform procedures, as needed on their continuity patients.

An electronic log of procedures allows the resident to track his/her own progress with procedures. 



Do residents have any input to the program?

Yes. Residents at all levels of training are included in the committee meetings, which shape the program. From scheduling to curriculum residents participate in the decision-making process for many aspects of their training. Our program director and faculty are eager to receive resident feedback and have an open-door policy.




How do the residents and staff get along?

An advantage to the size of the program is that residents and staff get to know each other well. There is a strong connection within the group that offers camaraderie and support.

Residents and staff work as colleagues. There are many social events that are enjoyed by all.


Will I have research opportunities?

Yes. Over six hundred clinical trails have been performed in the last twelve years at the on-site Lindner Center. This premier research institute is involved in multidisciplinary international trials with a major focus on cardiology. Residents are welcome and can reasonably expect to publish while in training.

In addition, the James Gamble research facility is associated with The Christ Hospital.



Does Christ Hospital provide excellent ancillary services?

There are excellent ancillary services at Christ Hospital. Radiology attendings are available 24 hours a day and are in house until midnight. Full lab service is available which means residents are not responsible for drawing or transporting patient labs. Pharmacists are available 24 hours a day and clinical pharmacists assist both in the hospital and in the outpatient clinic. Residents do not have to transport their own patients. All of these services save the residents from wasted time doing scutwork and allow them to focus on education and patient care.



What is CPOE and how does it affect the residents?

CPOE is the Computer Physician Order Entry system that is currently being implemented at Christ Hospital. This will allow residents and attending physicians to enter patient orders directly both at the bedside with portable computers as well as via stationary units. This will improve the accuracy of ordering and therefore patient care.