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Hello Everyone. I am currently a PGY1 resident at ORMC and I am loving it. I cannot imagine a better program for me. I chose ORMC as my #1 because it is a powerhouse of a program. We are looking for smart, hard working, experienced , candidates that can also hold a conversation and have a little fun. The new 1st year class is a strong group of individuals who are down to earth, hard working, and enjoy life. Interviewing here is a must if you want to get strong clinical training in an area of the country where you can go to the pool in the winter. It is sunny right now with no humidity and it will stay like this until may. We will be unveiling our new website soon, but until then here is a little snap shot. If you train here you can get a job anywhere in the country. West coast to East coast no problem we have been around long enough to have sent graduates everywhere.
Here is an interview review post from last year below: I will add on my spin as well
OrlandoRegionalMedicalCenter
Residents: 14 residents per year. Residents play a big role in the selection process and were actively involved all day as well as the night before. The residents are really friendly, outgoing, down-to-earth, and impressive. They genuinely seem to be friends. Everyone I spoke to ranked it first, and all of them emphasized how happy they were. There are a lot of single residents, but still a mix of married and a few with kids. Many residents live in the same complex downtown, and it seems like they all hang out a lot. They have a reputation as a fun, cohesive group and make it clear that they choose incoming residents that will fit the mold.-
-my class is 50/50 married or single.
Faculty: They have added about 10 new faculty members in the last 3 years to complement a host of people who have been here for a long time. The PD, Dr. Silvestri, is very resident-friendly and was the region's EMS director. Two of the senior attendings hold significant positions within the hospital, guaranteeing the Emergency Department support and funding. Residents report a first-name-basis relationship with almost everyone, and the some of the attendings also hang out with residents outside of work. The new faculty includes multiple Pedi-trained attendings to staff the new Ped ED, a research director, a simulation director, and a couple of ultrasound attendings. Additionally, the faculty responds very well to resident input.
Hospital:
Almost every rotation is in the ORMC campus, which includes the main hospital, Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital, and the very new WinniePalmerHospital for Women and Babies. Together, these three have >1100 beds, and the 2 EDs see >100,000 visits per year combined.
Orlando Regional Healthcare: 500+ bed community hospital, Level 1 Trauma center (blunt and penetrating), and the region's burn center. The adult ED is a good facility, mostly private rooms and electronic patient tracking and ordering. There is a fast track staffed with PA and NP's, and the residents rarely work there. Four busy trauma bays are located adjacent to a hallway with 2 dedicated CT scanners and X-ray. This ED gets about 70,000 people a year, a solid mix of insured and uninsured (maybe 60-40% or 70-30% as per resident estimate), with a high acuity level (30% admission rate).
A.P. Children's Hospital: Dedicated children's hospital with a brand new 33 bed ED. Private rooms with flat screen TVs, computerized tracking and ordering, 4 big trauma bays with dedicated radiology. Sees >30,000 and growing. Very pretty facility.
Ancillary Stuff: We were told the ancillary support is great in the ED. Additionally, everyone in the ED seems to get along very well, from the chair to the janitorial staff…
-very fun place to work. You do not do scutt work. In my first month I was averaging 12-16 patients a shift. You don't have to put in peripheral lines, (unless the nursing staff cannot get them and they need your Ultra sound guided support), everything is done for you and runs to make our job as smooth as possible so that we can see as many patients as possible. You are the doctor and you do doctor duties. The ancillary staff is great.
Admitting/Documentation: No problems with admitting. Paper Charts (T-sheets), but computerized ordering, and no dictating. The rest of the hospital charts electronically, so you can look up old charts/EKGs on the computer.
Curriculum: Dynamic 3 year curriculum with emphasis on critical care and ED time. Interns have almost a half year in the ED, plus 2 months of trauma (there is a big trauma census here), an Anesthesia/Ultrasound month (room to room throwing tubes – there are no anesthesia residents in the hospital), and a month in the MICU. Second year is largely ED and critical care time (4 more months), including the popular Jacksonville ICU month (one on one with an attending with tons of procedures and autonomy). Third year is 9mo of ED time, and a month as teaching resident. They have 3 elective months (most I've seen for a 3 year program) – including many international options, and excellent Peds exposure (1 dedicated month in PGY1, then 20-25% interspersed shifts the rest of the way - plus a PICU month). This may be the best Peds exposure I've seen for a 3 year program, especially with the new facility and growing census. The off-service months have been streamlined towards EM – hold the consult pager for ortho, catch babies all day in OB, throw tubes all day in Anesth, etc. They each get a small lap top computer to carry for charting and ordering when on the floors. Also, the faculty has made changes based on resident suggestions. Mostly 12 hour shifts (Peds are usually 10s) – and everyone gets a 30min break during the shift. Interns work 20 shifts, second years work 18 shifts, and third years work 16 shifts per month. Residents get tons of procedures both in the ED and on off-service rotations, where they are valued members of the team (always among the strongest residents in the hospital). The program emphasizes ultrasound use, and is increasing the use of simulation medicine. Additionally, the program is very "resident-run" – beyond altering the curriculum based on resident suggestions, residents also establish committees for research, education, etc, and make decisions about the direction of the program as a group with the faculty.
The orientation month consists of daily morning lectures and 10 ED shifts. In addition interns are allowed to focus on other required courses such as PALS, ACLS and ATLS. The ED shifts mainly consist of adult shifts but do include several pediatric shifts. This allows interns to get comfortable in the new environment with supervision and guidance. Having the extra time to get oriented to the ED, the computer systems, and the ED staff (ancillary as well as other physicians) is an excellent advantage for a new resident. One of the greatest advantages to this approach is to ease the transition from medical student to an intern. The lectures and extra time spent with attending physicians and senior residents, allows new interns to learn what is expected of them and how to provide superior patient care. The orientation month builds the knowledge base through didactics, simulation, and patient care. It also serves as a team building time. It allows new interns to meet senior residents and faculty
-After you get comfortable in the department you start seeing sick patients right away. In my first 2 month I was treating sepsis, playing with pressors, Placeing central lines, intubating people, thoracentesis, lumbar punctures, my colleagues were putting in chest tubes, diagnosing surgical emergencies with bedside US and on and on. Just a lowely intern. You dont see that at every program.
-you also have the opportunity to rotate in New Zealand, Hawaii, BAli, Dominican republic, or any other place you can muster up. What other programs give you those opportunities? You get 3 months of electives to do what ever you want.
Didactics/Research: Didactics are split into 2 mornings a week. Residents have a near 100% boards passing rate over the last decade or more. Research has been stepped up quite a bit with the addition of new faculty (although ORMC has always published well). The new research director, Dr. Papa has NIH funded research. There are ongoing ultrasound, EMS, simulation and critical care projects. The program has EMS, Ultrasound, and Research Fellowships, and is in the process of starting a Peds fellowship.
The overall mission of the program is academic in nature and a solid clinical training program that has been known to turn out some bad-ass clinicians. We are all involved in research and is getting stronger and stronger each year.
City: ORMC is located in downtown Orlando, >15 miles away from the Disney parks and surrounding tourist wonderland most people associate with Orlando. The downtown area has been revitalized quite a bit in the last few years, with increasing residential areas and nightlife. There are many beautiful lakes, and some pretty parks around the city. Additionally, there is an unbelievable array of dining/drinking/entertainment options in the surrounding areas. The weather is hot and sunny year round, and the real estate is relatively cheap. You can be surfing in CocoaBeach in an hour, or fishing in the Gulf in an hour and a half – any time of year. Fabulous golf courses are everywhere. Orlando is a great town, in a great location – and you can't beat the weather!
Extras: Salary is good for Florida (starting $41,700+ as PGY1, no state income tax). Free food at the hospital 24hrs a day, and free parking right next door. 4 weeks vacation, including 1 week on either christmas or new years every year. Excellent insurance and a retirement package with partial matching of funds after one year. Moonlighting in the unit at a local hospital in the ORMC system as a third year. Chance to attend a Disaster Preparedness Course with NASA (in case of Shuttle emergency), also medical missions to the DR. The University of Central Florida is opening an allopathic medical school this year, and ORMC will be a major clinical site.
Overall: I have a really great feeling about this place. It's a Academic center in a community hospital with beds that move and a system that makes a residents life easier. Which I think may be the best combination for EM training. This is an older, established, well-respected program with a culture of happy, productive residents. There is a "big family" type atmosphere between the faculty, residents and staff – all of whom have impressive skills but still manage to have more fun than anyone else I've met. In addition, the new faculty has brought a ton of expertise and academic potential. Just a great program overall…
- You are taught entirely by our friendly experienced EM faculty, not residents who all love to teach. Once you get here you will see the opportunity to truly build you skill set. You will defiantly work hard in our department but you will never feel alone. I traveled to many places last year and ORMC had everything I was looking for; an outstanding reputation, academics in a community hospital with large indigent population (simulating real life). We have a supportive staff, funding for travel and research, and an unbelievable patient load because everything flows so well here. You will feel like part of the ORMC family. We hang out with our staff and they treat us like friends and colleagues Also, the great weather is a plus along with Orlando being a fairly cheap place to live.
Here is an interview review post from last year below: I will add on my spin as well
OrlandoRegionalMedicalCenter
Residents: 14 residents per year. Residents play a big role in the selection process and were actively involved all day as well as the night before. The residents are really friendly, outgoing, down-to-earth, and impressive. They genuinely seem to be friends. Everyone I spoke to ranked it first, and all of them emphasized how happy they were. There are a lot of single residents, but still a mix of married and a few with kids. Many residents live in the same complex downtown, and it seems like they all hang out a lot. They have a reputation as a fun, cohesive group and make it clear that they choose incoming residents that will fit the mold.-
-my class is 50/50 married or single.
Faculty: They have added about 10 new faculty members in the last 3 years to complement a host of people who have been here for a long time. The PD, Dr. Silvestri, is very resident-friendly and was the region's EMS director. Two of the senior attendings hold significant positions within the hospital, guaranteeing the Emergency Department support and funding. Residents report a first-name-basis relationship with almost everyone, and the some of the attendings also hang out with residents outside of work. The new faculty includes multiple Pedi-trained attendings to staff the new Ped ED, a research director, a simulation director, and a couple of ultrasound attendings. Additionally, the faculty responds very well to resident input.
Hospital:
Almost every rotation is in the ORMC campus, which includes the main hospital, Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital, and the very new WinniePalmerHospital for Women and Babies. Together, these three have >1100 beds, and the 2 EDs see >100,000 visits per year combined.
Orlando Regional Healthcare: 500+ bed community hospital, Level 1 Trauma center (blunt and penetrating), and the region's burn center. The adult ED is a good facility, mostly private rooms and electronic patient tracking and ordering. There is a fast track staffed with PA and NP's, and the residents rarely work there. Four busy trauma bays are located adjacent to a hallway with 2 dedicated CT scanners and X-ray. This ED gets about 70,000 people a year, a solid mix of insured and uninsured (maybe 60-40% or 70-30% as per resident estimate), with a high acuity level (30% admission rate).
A.P. Children's Hospital: Dedicated children's hospital with a brand new 33 bed ED. Private rooms with flat screen TVs, computerized tracking and ordering, 4 big trauma bays with dedicated radiology. Sees >30,000 and growing. Very pretty facility.
Ancillary Stuff: We were told the ancillary support is great in the ED. Additionally, everyone in the ED seems to get along very well, from the chair to the janitorial staff…
-very fun place to work. You do not do scutt work. In my first month I was averaging 12-16 patients a shift. You don't have to put in peripheral lines, (unless the nursing staff cannot get them and they need your Ultra sound guided support), everything is done for you and runs to make our job as smooth as possible so that we can see as many patients as possible. You are the doctor and you do doctor duties. The ancillary staff is great.
Admitting/Documentation: No problems with admitting. Paper Charts (T-sheets), but computerized ordering, and no dictating. The rest of the hospital charts electronically, so you can look up old charts/EKGs on the computer.
Curriculum: Dynamic 3 year curriculum with emphasis on critical care and ED time. Interns have almost a half year in the ED, plus 2 months of trauma (there is a big trauma census here), an Anesthesia/Ultrasound month (room to room throwing tubes – there are no anesthesia residents in the hospital), and a month in the MICU. Second year is largely ED and critical care time (4 more months), including the popular Jacksonville ICU month (one on one with an attending with tons of procedures and autonomy). Third year is 9mo of ED time, and a month as teaching resident. They have 3 elective months (most I've seen for a 3 year program) – including many international options, and excellent Peds exposure (1 dedicated month in PGY1, then 20-25% interspersed shifts the rest of the way - plus a PICU month). This may be the best Peds exposure I've seen for a 3 year program, especially with the new facility and growing census. The off-service months have been streamlined towards EM – hold the consult pager for ortho, catch babies all day in OB, throw tubes all day in Anesth, etc. They each get a small lap top computer to carry for charting and ordering when on the floors. Also, the faculty has made changes based on resident suggestions. Mostly 12 hour shifts (Peds are usually 10s) – and everyone gets a 30min break during the shift. Interns work 20 shifts, second years work 18 shifts, and third years work 16 shifts per month. Residents get tons of procedures both in the ED and on off-service rotations, where they are valued members of the team (always among the strongest residents in the hospital). The program emphasizes ultrasound use, and is increasing the use of simulation medicine. Additionally, the program is very "resident-run" – beyond altering the curriculum based on resident suggestions, residents also establish committees for research, education, etc, and make decisions about the direction of the program as a group with the faculty.
The orientation month consists of daily morning lectures and 10 ED shifts. In addition interns are allowed to focus on other required courses such as PALS, ACLS and ATLS. The ED shifts mainly consist of adult shifts but do include several pediatric shifts. This allows interns to get comfortable in the new environment with supervision and guidance. Having the extra time to get oriented to the ED, the computer systems, and the ED staff (ancillary as well as other physicians) is an excellent advantage for a new resident. One of the greatest advantages to this approach is to ease the transition from medical student to an intern. The lectures and extra time spent with attending physicians and senior residents, allows new interns to learn what is expected of them and how to provide superior patient care. The orientation month builds the knowledge base through didactics, simulation, and patient care. It also serves as a team building time. It allows new interns to meet senior residents and faculty
-After you get comfortable in the department you start seeing sick patients right away. In my first 2 month I was treating sepsis, playing with pressors, Placeing central lines, intubating people, thoracentesis, lumbar punctures, my colleagues were putting in chest tubes, diagnosing surgical emergencies with bedside US and on and on. Just a lowely intern. You dont see that at every program.
-you also have the opportunity to rotate in New Zealand, Hawaii, BAli, Dominican republic, or any other place you can muster up. What other programs give you those opportunities? You get 3 months of electives to do what ever you want.
Didactics/Research: Didactics are split into 2 mornings a week. Residents have a near 100% boards passing rate over the last decade or more. Research has been stepped up quite a bit with the addition of new faculty (although ORMC has always published well). The new research director, Dr. Papa has NIH funded research. There are ongoing ultrasound, EMS, simulation and critical care projects. The program has EMS, Ultrasound, and Research Fellowships, and is in the process of starting a Peds fellowship.
The overall mission of the program is academic in nature and a solid clinical training program that has been known to turn out some bad-ass clinicians. We are all involved in research and is getting stronger and stronger each year.
City: ORMC is located in downtown Orlando, >15 miles away from the Disney parks and surrounding tourist wonderland most people associate with Orlando. The downtown area has been revitalized quite a bit in the last few years, with increasing residential areas and nightlife. There are many beautiful lakes, and some pretty parks around the city. Additionally, there is an unbelievable array of dining/drinking/entertainment options in the surrounding areas. The weather is hot and sunny year round, and the real estate is relatively cheap. You can be surfing in CocoaBeach in an hour, or fishing in the Gulf in an hour and a half – any time of year. Fabulous golf courses are everywhere. Orlando is a great town, in a great location – and you can't beat the weather!
Extras: Salary is good for Florida (starting $41,700+ as PGY1, no state income tax). Free food at the hospital 24hrs a day, and free parking right next door. 4 weeks vacation, including 1 week on either christmas or new years every year. Excellent insurance and a retirement package with partial matching of funds after one year. Moonlighting in the unit at a local hospital in the ORMC system as a third year. Chance to attend a Disaster Preparedness Course with NASA (in case of Shuttle emergency), also medical missions to the DR. The University of Central Florida is opening an allopathic medical school this year, and ORMC will be a major clinical site.
Overall: I have a really great feeling about this place. It's a Academic center in a community hospital with beds that move and a system that makes a residents life easier. Which I think may be the best combination for EM training. This is an older, established, well-respected program with a culture of happy, productive residents. There is a "big family" type atmosphere between the faculty, residents and staff – all of whom have impressive skills but still manage to have more fun than anyone else I've met. In addition, the new faculty has brought a ton of expertise and academic potential. Just a great program overall…
- You are taught entirely by our friendly experienced EM faculty, not residents who all love to teach. Once you get here you will see the opportunity to truly build you skill set. You will defiantly work hard in our department but you will never feel alone. I traveled to many places last year and ORMC had everything I was looking for; an outstanding reputation, academics in a community hospital with large indigent population (simulating real life). We have a supportive staff, funding for travel and research, and an unbelievable patient load because everything flows so well here. You will feel like part of the ORMC family. We hang out with our staff and they treat us like friends and colleagues Also, the great weather is a plus along with Orlando being a fairly cheap place to live.
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