Few trainees appreciate how unique an opportunity this is until their fellowship has been completed. It is our expectation that fellows will apply themselves with enthusiasm, intellectual rigor, and creativity in order to derive the greatest benefit from this opportunity and the best possible preparation for future career endeavors. These rotations are briefly described below. The consult fellow evaluates patients directly or supervises students and house staff in consultations throughout the University Hospital. After initial evaluation, all patients are discussed in detail with a member of the attending staff.
Concurrent care is provided as required on all patients seen by the consultation service.
Fellows also perform any invasive procedures that are required on these patients, including bronchoscopy, pleural biopsy, or thoracostomy tube placement. Approximately 50-70 new consultations are performed per month. This service is responsible for all patients under the care of the Department of Internal Medicine who require critical care and are not candidates for the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Six house officers and four fourth year medical students are assigned to this 20-bed unit service, and are supervised by the fellow. A faculty member in the Division serves as the attending physician, conducting both patient care rounds and didactic teaching rounds daily with house staff and fellows.