Jeff698 said:
I've always liked Chicago and want to apply to at least one program there. Since I've only visited, I know almost nothing of the city from a medicine point of view. I'm hoping someone with more knowledge can offer some advice.
O.k., I'll try. But you might want to do a search on the topic. There are old threads here discussing Chi-town at length.
Jeff698 said:
Every program I've looked at uses multiple hospitals. Where do residents live (especially if they have a family and a large dog) if they have to bounce between facilities? What's the traffic like and is this a significant hurdle?
Residents live in a variety of places. Housing is
expensive! Buying may be more limited than in other programs / cities. "Bouncing" between facilities is not usually that big a problem as most are
somewhat geographically close. However, traffic sucks. If you live outside the mass transit system's area you can expert a lengthy commute. If you live inside, it is still long, but at least you aren't driving!
Jeff698 said:
What's the EMS system like? It seems like there are multiple 911 systems and several helicopter programs and leaves me awfully confused. Who provides medical control for the paramedics?
Are there any programs that are known for EMS?
The Chicago Fire Department provides the vast majority of the 911 calls inside the city. They a fire-based, single role department, that is the paramedics are separate from fire. The Bureau of Emergency Medical Services of the Chicago Fire Department operates a fleet of 59 advanced life support ambulances. Each of these ambulances is staffed by two paramedics (advanced life support). In addition to these units, there are twelve basic life support ambulances staffed by two firefighter/EMT-Basics. These units are relatively new and are designed to take up some of the ALS excess.
In addition to these units, there are twenty-seven Advanced Life Support Engine Companies. These are staffed with at least one firefighter/paramedic and one firefighter/EMT-Basic as part of their normal crew. An Advanced Life Support Engine Company is dispatched to any life threatening incident where it would be closer than the nearest ALS ambulance.
In order to provide further support, all fire suppression companies have firefighters and firefighter/EMT-Basics trained as first responders. Most of these units are equipped with automatic external defibrillators.
During calendar year 1999 (the year I worked on a comprehensive report on the Fire Department commissioned by the City), there were 257,005 emergency medical service responses. You should know that there is a
significant cultural rift between the fire suppression personnel and EMS personnel. While this rarely "spills out to the streets", it does effect those outside the department who look to work with both services (fire and EMS).
Medical control is a bit unusual. There are three "zones" in the city. Each having it's own medical director and slightly varied protocols. A unit's "zone" is based on its station location, not the location of the call. Telemetry calls are generally taken by nurses, and there are no real "mother may I protocols" (procedures that require the paramedic to call in before performing them). The sole exception is field termination of resuscitation.
There is really only one helicopter service in the City proper, which is housed at the University of Chicago. Their residents do fly. There are two helicopters near the City, one in Maywood, out of Loyola University Medical Center, and the other based in McHenry, out of Northern Illinois Medical Center. Neither of these hospitals house residencies, but "ride-alongs" have been offered on these services by various Chicago programs.
Immediately outside the City, the "dual-role/cross-trained" EMS model predominates. Providers are generally both firefighters and paramedics. Medical control varies by region, but hold to the general model of resource hospital and associated facilities. Christ Medical Center serves in this capacity just south of the City. I am fairly certain their residents are involved with their EMS program. All of the residency programs in and around the City do offer EMS contact. Each certifies the their residents to answer EMS field calls, most in more than one EMS System. Ride-alongs are easy to arrange in the City or the 'burbs, but your experience will vary dependent on your crew. None of the programs is as EMS "driven" as say an Indiana or Wright State, but they all offer a good experience.
Just my $0.02 as a former near suburban firefighter/paramedic and municipal consultant. I'm sure others will disagree...
- H
