Senior residents have more autonomy in decision-making and patient care on this team. Weekend coverage alternates week to week. The goals of this team are to give senior residents an opportunity to independently manage hospitalized patients and to develop inpatient medical consultation skills. The goals of medical training in the intensive care units is to educate residents in the diagnosis, evaluation and management of patients with a wide range of critical illnesses. The resident is expected to learn the indications for cardiac catheterization, PTCA, thrombolysis, cardiac bypass surgery, and intra-aortic balloon pump placement.
Residents also become proficient in ventilator management.
Inherent in this situation is the management of psychiatric, social and family concerns. Housestaff have primary responsibility for patient care in these units, including admission, evaluation, daily care, and order- writing. Principle teaching methods include work rounds, attending rounds, and management rounds. Call is every third night. Patients are transferred to a general medical ward team when discharged from the unit.