In order to achieve the goal of training competent anesthesiologists, a general departmental curriculum and rotation specific curriculum has been developed using the ACGME's six core competencies. The six core competencies are as follows:
1. Patient Care: Residents must be able to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of medical problems and the promotion of health.
2. Medical Knowledge: Residents must demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and cognate (e.g. epidemiological and social behavioral) sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care.
3. Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Residents will demonstrate Interpersonal a d Communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, families and other health professionals.
4. Professionalism: Residents must demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population.
5. Practice-Based Learning and Improvement: Residents must be able to investigate and evaluate their patient care practices, appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and improve their patient care practices.
6. Systems-Based Practice: Residents must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value.
Each specific rotation has its own core competency based goals and objectives. Our academic year is broken down into 12 1-month blocks with several rotations taking place at our affiliates, New England Baptist Hospital and Children's Hospital Boston. Each PGY year is made up of rotations that are appropriate for the resident's level of training. We have an excellent 2-month rotation at the beginning of training for our CA-1 residents called "Intro to Anesthesia". This provides a panoramic overview of anesthesiology with an emphasis on preoperative evaluation, room and equipment set-up and preparation, and learning the management of non-complicated anesthesia cases.
Block Schedule
AMB: Ambulatory
SICU: BMC SICU
GS: General Surgery
OB: Obstetrics
GU/GYN: Gynecology & Genitourinary
ORTHO: Orthopedics
CT: Cardiac
NEURO: Neurology
PAIN: Pain rotation
THORACIC: Thoracic
PAT: Pre-admission Testing
PEDS: Junior Pediatrics
CHB: Children's Hospital Boston
NEBH: New England Baptist
PACU: Post Anesthesia Care Unit
The block schedule above is a sample of the rotations for one resident for each PGY year of training. Residents will consult with the Program Director on their choices for 2 – 3 elective blocks during their CA-2 and CA-3 years. Residents can choose their electives from the current rotation listing or they may also choose to do an elective in research or trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE).
Vacation time for residents is based on the American Board of Anesthesiology's (ABA) requirements. Absences from clinical anesthesia training for residents may not exceed the equivalent of 20 working days per year (three weeks of vacation and one week of meeting time). All residents are entitled to 20 days (excluding weekends and holidays) free of departmental duties during each academic year. Of these 20 days, 15 are normally used as vacation and five are available for unanticipated leave. Sick leave exceeding these five days must be made up either by use of vacation days or additional assignments beyond the normal completion of the program. No vacation time will be granted from July 1st through August 15th of each year and additionally, vacation time is not allowed on the following rotations, Children's Hospital Boston, Pain, SICU and PAT.
In addition to the excellent training that our residents receive on our main campus at Boston Medical Center, they also receive specialized training at both New England Baptist Hospital and Children's Hospital Boston. As a primarily orthopedic-based surgical specialty hospital, New England Baptist offers our residents a unique opportunity for diverse training in both regional and acute pain anesthesia. At Children's Hospital Boston our residents are exposed to a wide variety of cases involving the care of infants, children and adolescents. As a leader in children's care, Children's Hospital Boston sees many patients with major congenital anomalies and rare conditions and syndromes. This affords our residents the opportunity to be exposed to cases they might not otherwise see.