Frequently Asked Questions
2. Does this mean I will do rotations at more than one campus?
3. What is the “cap” on the number of admissions?
4. What is the call schedule?
5. How many patients will I be responsible for?
6. How much “scut” work will I have to do?
7. How many days off will I have?
8. How many electives will I have?
9. Do you support an outside elective?
10. What is the patient population?
11. Are all patients “teaching patients”?
12. How is the teaching organized? What is the conference schedule?
13. How much of my training will be in the ambulatory setting?
14. Will I have an opportunity to do scholarly activity or research?
15. Do you offer individualized resident training or pathways?
16. Is regular feedback provided to the housestaff?
17. Is there a formal Board Review Series?
18. What do the graduates of the program do after complying with their training?
19. Where do the housestaff generally live?
20. How many residents are in the program?
2. Does this mean I will do rotations at more than one campus?
The program is based at Advocate Christ Medical Center (ACMC) and all assigned rotations are done at ACMC. Residents can also do selected elective subspecialty and research rotations at the University of Illinois at Chicago, both as PGY-2 and PGY-3.
The program is based at Advocate Christ Medical Center (ACMC) and all assigned rotations are done at ACMC. Residents can also do selected elective subspecialty and research rotations at the University of Illinois at Chicago, both as PGY-2 and PGY-3.
3. What is the “cap” on the number of admissions?
We are compliant with the ACGME regulations on admissions for residents of all levels.
We are compliant with the ACGME regulations on admissions for residents of all levels.
4. What is the call schedule?
A normal day starts at 7am and ends at 3-4pm on most days and at 7pm every 4 days, which are "long call days." We use a "drip" admitting system, where admissions are dispersed over 4-5 teams who each have a designated admitting time frame. This is designed to keep the work load more even throughout the week, as opposed to a "bolus" admitting system. There is no overnight call on the general medical floor or ICU rotations for all interns and residents! We instead use a night float system that takes admissions and covers patients from 7pm to 7am.
A normal day starts at 7am and ends at 3-4pm on most days and at 7pm every 4 days, which are "long call days." We use a "drip" admitting system, where admissions are dispersed over 4-5 teams who each have a designated admitting time frame. This is designed to keep the work load more even throughout the week, as opposed to a "bolus" admitting system. There is no overnight call on the general medical floor or ICU rotations for all interns and residents! We instead use a night float system that takes admissions and covers patients from 7pm to 7am.
5. How many patients will I be responsible for?
This number can be quite variable, but on average a PGY-1 is responsible for 6-8 patients. The maximum number of patients that a PGY-1 can be responsible at any given time is 10.
This number can be quite variable, but on average a PGY-1 is responsible for 6-8 patients. The maximum number of patients that a PGY-1 can be responsible at any given time is 10.
6. How much “scut” work will I have to do?
We have ample ancillary services, such as phlebotomy, transporters, EKG and radiology technicians, which decreases “scut” work to near zero, compared to certain other programs.
We have ample ancillary services, such as phlebotomy, transporters, EKG and radiology technicians, which decreases “scut” work to near zero, compared to certain other programs.
7. How many days off will I have?
Each housestaff member has a mininum of 4 days off per 4 week rotation. Residents can also be granted time off for educational activities, conferences, etc. In addition, all interns and residents are guaranteed 4 weeks of paid vacation each academic year.
Each housestaff member has a mininum of 4 days off per 4 week rotation. Residents can also be granted time off for educational activities, conferences, etc. In addition, all interns and residents are guaranteed 4 weeks of paid vacation each academic year.
8. How many electives will I have?
As an intern, you will have 3-4 electives. In the second and third year, you will have around 5-6 electives.
As an intern, you will have 3-4 electives. In the second and third year, you will have around 5-6 electives.
9. Do you support an outside elective?
Yes. Residents may request to do an elective within the University of Illinois system if it fulfills an educational need. You may also do an elective at other University programs with prior approval from the program.
Yes. Residents may request to do an elective within the University of Illinois system if it fulfills an educational need. You may also do an elective at other University programs with prior approval from the program.
10. What is the patient population?
Since ACMC serves as a tertiary referral center while providing care for the surrounding community, there is a wide and unique spectrum of patients unparalleled in any hospital in the Chicago area. Our patients’ medical problems range from “bread and butter” general medical issues to incredibly complex specialty problems.
Since ACMC serves as a tertiary referral center while providing care for the surrounding community, there is a wide and unique spectrum of patients unparalleled in any hospital in the Chicago area. Our patients’ medical problems range from “bread and butter” general medical issues to incredibly complex specialty problems.
11. Are all patients “teaching patients”?
No, the hospital has a large patient volume, thus residents do not provide coverage for all admitted patients. Our residents cover the patients that are admitted to the 5 teaching floor teams .
No, the hospital has a large patient volume, thus residents do not provide coverage for all admitted patients. Our residents cover the patients that are admitted to the 5 teaching floor teams .
12. How is the teaching organized? What is the conference schedule?
Throughout the week residents attend teaching rounds, morning report, noon conferences. grand round presentations, and board review. Teaching rounds are held 5 days per week for 1½ to 2 hours each day. Morning report is held 3 days a week Monday - Wednesday. Grand Rounds are held twice a month on Thursdays. Morbidity and Mortality Conference, the Core Medicine Lecture Series, Primary Care Conference, and Subspecialty Conferences are incorporated into the daily noon conferences 3 days a week Monday - Wednesday. Journal Club is held twice a month. In addition, the Quality and Patient Safety, General Internal Medicine and Medical Education Pathways present lectures and/or workshops once a month.
Throughout the week residents attend teaching rounds, morning report, noon conferences. grand round presentations, and board review. Teaching rounds are held 5 days per week for 1½ to 2 hours each day. Morning report is held 3 days a week Monday - Wednesday. Grand Rounds are held twice a month on Thursdays. Morbidity and Mortality Conference, the Core Medicine Lecture Series, Primary Care Conference, and Subspecialty Conferences are incorporated into the daily noon conferences 3 days a week Monday - Wednesday. Journal Club is held twice a month. In addition, the Quality and Patient Safety, General Internal Medicine and Medical Education Pathways present lectures and/or workshops once a month.
13. How much of my training will be in the ambulatory setting?
Overall, approximately one-third of your time will be in the ambulatory setting. This includes a 3-year half-day continuity clinic experience in our state of the art ambulatory facility, the Adult Medicine Center, and outpatient experience during specialty rotations. In addition to the weekly half-day continuity clinic, categorical residents will do an ambulatory block rotation that allows them to focus on practice guidelines and a Quality Improvement Project in the outpatient setting. Our weekly half-day clinic structure allows residents to take ownership of their patients by having greater continuity of care. It also allows them to follow up with the patients they care for in the hospital in a timely manner.
Overall, approximately one-third of your time will be in the ambulatory setting. This includes a 3-year half-day continuity clinic experience in our state of the art ambulatory facility, the Adult Medicine Center, and outpatient experience during specialty rotations. In addition to the weekly half-day continuity clinic, categorical residents will do an ambulatory block rotation that allows them to focus on practice guidelines and a Quality Improvement Project in the outpatient setting. Our weekly half-day clinic structure allows residents to take ownership of their patients by having greater continuity of care. It also allows them to follow up with the patients they care for in the hospital in a timely manner.
14. Will I have an opportunity to do scholarly activity or research?
We recognize the important role of research in the career goals of many of our residents and support the research activities of our residents. The Office of Clinical Research provides organizational, financial and statistical support for resident research activities. Our Chair and Chief of Resident Research meets individually with all residents and facilitates their research projects. In addition, physicians from a wide variety of subspecialties mentor our residents and help them present their projects at local and national conferences. Residents can also do a dedicated elective month of research, both as PGY-2 and PGY-3.
We recognize the important role of research in the career goals of many of our residents and support the research activities of our residents. The Office of Clinical Research provides organizational, financial and statistical support for resident research activities. Our Chair and Chief of Resident Research meets individually with all residents and facilitates their research projects. In addition, physicians from a wide variety of subspecialties mentor our residents and help them present their projects at local and national conferences. Residents can also do a dedicated elective month of research, both as PGY-2 and PGY-3.
15. Do you offer individualized resident training or pathways?
Yes, we currently have General Internal Medicine, Quality Improvement/Patient Safety, and Medical Education Pathways available to our residents to join and individualize their training.
Yes, we currently have General Internal Medicine, Quality Improvement/Patient Safety, and Medical Education Pathways available to our residents to join and individualize their training.
16. Is regular feedback provided to the housestaff?
Yes. Each resident is assigned an evaluator who meets with the resident semi-annually to review his/her performance evaluations. In addition, the service attending provides feedback each month regarding the performance of the team members and all residents on subspecialty rotations are evaluated as well. There is a 360-degree evaluation system in place on all rotations.
Yes. Each resident is assigned an evaluator who meets with the resident semi-annually to review his/her performance evaluations. In addition, the service attending provides feedback each month regarding the performance of the team members and all residents on subspecialty rotations are evaluated as well. There is a 360-degree evaluation system in place on all rotations.
17. Is there a formal Board Review Series?
Yes. There is a Board Review series that covers all core Internal Medicine topics occurring weekly throughout the year.
Yes. There is a Board Review series that covers all core Internal Medicine topics occurring weekly throughout the year.
18. What do the graduates of the program do after complying with their training?
Our residents have been highly successful in pursuing fellowships and landing competitive jobs in primary care and hospitalist medicine.
Our residents have been highly successful in pursuing fellowships and landing competitive jobs in primary care and hospitalist medicine.
19. Where do the housestaff generally live?
Although you may live anywhere in the Chicagoland area, most of the residents choose to live in downtown Chicago or the western suburbs. Oak Lawn also offers affordable housing that is conveniently located.
Although you may live anywhere in the Chicagoland area, most of the residents choose to live in downtown Chicago or the western suburbs. Oak Lawn also offers affordable housing that is conveniently located.
20. How many residents are in the program?
There are currently a total of 66 interns and residents in our program.
There are currently a total of 66 interns and residents in our program.