This year is designed to introduce the trainee to the broad field of surgery. Rotations are provided in General Surgery, Transplant Surgery, Neurosurgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Urology, Critical Care and the Emergency Room. Rotations are performed at Charleston Memorial Hospital, The Medical University Hospital, and the VA Hospital. A minimum of five months is spent on the General Surgical Services. He may have the opportunity to perform operations under the direct supervision of chief residents and attending surgeons.
Primary emphasis is placed on the evaluation of the surgical inpatient and outpatient.
The trainee works as a junior ward officer where all aspects of preoperative and postoperative care are stressed. The PGY-1 is also responsible for much of the administrative aspects of patient care, including insuring timely completion of histories and physical examinations, and progress notes whether completed by the students or other members of the team. The trainee assures that all aspects of care are addressed by communicating them in the doctor's orders and assuring that these orders have been accomplished. Together with other junior residents on the service, the PGY-1 is responsible for the dictation of accurate and concise discharge summaries. When the PGY-1 is the primary operating surgeon, he is responsible for dictation of the operative note immediately following the procedure.