Six months in an Irish emergency department: the experience of a senior house officer

Ir J Med Sci. 2009 Sep;178(3):273-6. doi: 10.1007/s11845-009-0330-8. Epub 2009 Mar 27.

Abstract

Introduction: Emergency Medicine (EM) is a challenging specialty to work within and forms part of a number of training programs. The Emergency Medicine experience at non-consultant hospital doctor (NCHD) level in Ireland has not been reported.

Methods: We retrospectively audited one NCHDs 6-month experience in Emergency Medicine at Cork University Hospital to document the potential experience gained from this rotation.

Results: We found a broad experience and exposure to a variety of medical conditions, especially orthopaedic presentations (39% of patients seen).

Conclusion: Emergency Medicine provides a potential broad experience for a senior house officer and may be of benefit to various training schemes.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Clinical Competence*
  • Emergency Medicine / education*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Hospitalists / education*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Ireland
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult