Georgetown EM Program

[DIVA01]

Is anyone here from this program? I am really interested in it, and wanted to talk to someone there. Also, does anyone what the other good EM programs in the VA/MD/Metropolitan DC area are?


Thanks!

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[southerndoc]

One of their attendings is one of the moderators of the SDN Emergency Medicine forums.

 

[trkd]

I can hear Quinn coming. Wait for it.......wait for it............

In the meantime I'll tell you about my experience, I did some shifts there while visiting family for the holidays this past Xmas time. There were no residents yet though. I also grew up there so I'll provide as much insight as possible.

So, 2 hospitals (Washington Hospital Center and Georgetown University Hospital) which as DRASTICALLY different. In fact, they represent the two distinct demographics of Washingtonians. WHC is the fast-paced, more trauma, rarely anything but poor black DC residents. Nice ED setup. Not the greatest area. Some shared attendings between GUH and WHC but mostly separate I think. I think they have this 13 sec full body scanner for mass trauma there. I haven't seen it but maybe Quinn can say more about the disaster training stuff going on there.

GUH is mostly richer white folks from richer parts of DC and some surrounding VA and MD places. More bread and butter kids with cough and old ladies with head lacs.

As for the teaching, I didn't spend much time at WHC but GUH had awesome teaching. Faculty were super cool. They have many young attendings that are VERY enthusiastic teachers. They really are cool people. Asst PD is one of these really rockin' faculty. Dr. Love, the PD, seems like a really cool guy as well.

As for the area, one is in the nice part of DC and the other not so nice. Quinn is probably more likely to be able to tell you about current property market at the moment but in general, compare homes around Georgetown (the area around Georgetown Hospital) to some of the highest cost in the country. You will have to settle for an apt, townhomes around there cost A LOT! WHC is in an area you don't want to live in so not much to say there. That said, maybe someone found a sweet spot somewhere around there that I don't know about. Unlikely I think. Also, commuting in DC sucks. Sorry.

As for the program itself, I don't know anything about the it because there were no residents there. We'll keep waiting for Quinn for that. Overall, I enjoyed my time there. As for other programs in DC, George Washington University has one. It is not too far from Georgetown U. I don't know anything about it. Those are the only two. Next closest ones are Baltimore to the north which is about 75 mins drive without traffic and southern VA ones which are hours away.

Hope that helps, good luck!

 

[dlung]

I think one or two of our recent grads are also newbie attendings there--they are both super.

 

[DrQuinn]

Ta-da!

Here I am, just got off a shift and checking SDN. *tsk tsk*. The G'town EM program is too cush!

I am one of the new attendings here at the new G'town EM residency program. I am more based at Wash Hosp Center, but will be doing some work at G'town as the year progresses (we all kind of go back and forth but can have whatever preference we want).

It is a multiple hospital based EM residency, and just started (if you are applying now, you would be in the second class). Most of your education is at Georgetown University Hospital, a world-renowned tertiary care hospital that is in probably the nicest part of DC (and one of the most expensive). Not a lot of drug use/poor patients, mostly upper class and referrals from outside hospitals. Some pedie, too.

The other part of your residency is at Washington Hospital Center, an 800 bed level 1 trauma center in the heart of DC. Tons of trauma, lots of poor inner city but a GREAT mix of pathology. I see more and cooler pathology here than I did in my own residency. No peds, as we are next to the national children's hospital.

I think if I were applying for EM residencies and watned to go to the Dc area I would definately give Gtown a VERY close look. The faculty (me included) are very excited about the new program, we love to teach, and we treat our residents great. I make sure they are not given any scut, and are treated with the utmost respect by everyone at the hospital. I know what its liekt o be at a new program (since I graduated the first class in my own EM program), and it can be scary, but the administration here is very pro-resident.

The pathology is great, and the location is amazing. The other programs aroud here are GW (4 year program), Unv of MD and Hopkins up in Baltimore.

Any specific questions, feel free to post.

Q

 

[JaySin]

I dont know anything about the residency programs (im just an emt that wandered in) but if you have any questions about the area i might be able to help. Not that im admitting i live in the area or anything. 😀

 

[Wahoo]

Is anyone here from this program? I am really interested in it, and wanted to talk to someone there. Also, does anyone what the other good EM programs in the VA/MD/Metropolitan DC area are?

I'm not from the program, but I have done a little bit of research into it and its neighboring programs, and I grew up close by (Chantilly VA, about 20 miles away).

Georgetown: I met a few of the faculty members at SAEM and they all seemed like great people who were very enthusiastic about the program. Brand new program, with all the inherent pluses and minuses that go along with that. Georgetown's overall medical reputation has diminished somewhat in the past several years, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything about the EM program or how well it will meet your needs. Should have a great population mix between Georgetown and WHC.

GWU: A strong program with many interesting niches (International medicine, health policy, etc). Would probably be one of my overall favorites nationally if not for the 2,3,4 schedule. More established and arguably a more solid reputation than Georgetown. Nice new hospital opened ~5 years ago (I don't know what the ED is like or what their patient mix is like though). You might get to catch a glimpse of the Vice President (over the shoulders of many secret service agents and senior attendings) when his AICD inevitably goes off and he is brought here.

Christiana: A great, well-balanced program somewhat in the vicinity of DC (Delaware, to be exact) that you might want to consider.


DC is a great place to live, but it has its drawbacks: high cost of living, terrible traffic, hot & humid summers to name a few.


I'm just an MS4, so take all this with a grain of salt... and everyone please feel free to correct me or add your thoughts--I'm also interested in opinions on all the DC-area programs!

 

[dlung]

GW may morph from a 2-4 to a 1-4 next year... they hope to know fer sure in the late fall...

 

[DIVA01]

thanks so much for all the info! i really appreciate it! btw, what does 1-4, or 2-4 mean?

 

[Apollyon]

thanks so much for all the info! i really appreciate it! btw, what does 1-4, or 2-4 mean?

Program format. Most EM programs are three years, and are written as 1-3. 1-4 are 4 year programs, and 2-4 need an intern year (preliminary IM or surgery, or transitional) before you start as a PGY-2 (so you end up doing 4 years total).

Now, the 3 year vs 4 year question (why would you do one or the other) is a whole other bucket of worms.

 

[DrQuinn]

Dont' forget about the Univ of MD in Baltimore, a stone's throw away from DC (some actually live in the Dc area and commute up to Baltimore). I rotated there and LOVED it, its got such solid training... I would have ranked it #1 but chose to go to a new EM program as my #1 (and loved that decision). Niner can probably also talk about Johns Hopkins which is also in Balto. Didn't get an interview so I really have no opinion on them.

I really think that the G'town program is going to be able to offer a LOT to anyone interested in really "flexing your muscles" in regards to EM training and getting all a program has to offer. As a first year class of a new EM residency, I can tell you being in the first few classes has so many more perks that other "established" programs cannot offer... I wouldn't have traded my experience for the world.

Plus, Dc has some of the best restaurants in teh world... second (or third) maybe to NYC and Chicago.

Q

 

[southerndoc]

You might get to catch a glimpse of the Vice President (over the shoulders of many secret service agents and senior attendings) when his AICD inevitably goes off and he is brought here.

I was told that residents take care of the Veep and Pres if he goes to the ED... just like any other patient.

 

[mikecwru]

I was told that residents take care of the Veep and Pres if he goes to the ED... just like any other patient.

I seriously doubt it. I've heard about emergency plans for hospitals including calling certain chairs/higher ups from all major depts should the president be transported to the ED.

mike

 

[southerndoc]

I seriously doubt it. I've heard about emergency plans for hospitals including calling certain chairs/higher ups from all major depts should the president be transported to the ED.

Right. That's usually for hospitals that aren't accustomed to treating dignitaries.

I will ask my friend again. She is a paramedic/agent who works for the Secret Service.

 

[BKN]

I was told that residents take care of the Veep and Pres if he goes to the ED... just like any other patient.

Not a chance. I've been peripherally involved in several dignatary things. The chairs are down there in no time. No school will ever take the kind of chance you're talking about. And they shouldn't.

 

[trkd]

Nope, Walter Reed Army Med Center would be the place the Vice and others go when the ticker gets a funny beat going. I am not on the "in" with all this stuff but everything that goes down with the white house folks seem to happen through Walter Reed. I don't think they do emergency med down there but I have a feeling that you can get docs from many specialties to be ready at the door for the pres and the vice. That's my guess.

 

[southerndoc]

Nope, Walter Reed Army Med Center would be the place the Vice and others go when the ticker gets a funny beat going. I am not on the "in" with all this stuff but everything that goes down with the white house folks seem to happen through Walter Reed. I don't think they do emergency med down there but I have a feeling that you can get docs from many specialties to be ready at the door for the pres and the vice. That's my guess.

Walter Reed was where they got their checkups. However, emergency care was provided by George Washington University Medical Center, which is only a few blocks from the White House.

 

[Wahoo]

Walter Reed was where they got their checkups. However, emergency care was provided by George Washington University Medical Center, which is only a few blocks from the White House.

Exactly. When Reagan was shot, he was taken the the GWU ED. There is now a "Reagan Institute of Emergency Medicine" at GW as a result.

 

[Apollyon]

Exactly. When Reagan was shot, he was taken the the GWU ED. There is now a "Reagan Institute of Emergency Medicine" at GW as a result.

Umm...I don't know all the facilities, but I DO know that, wherever Reagan was taken, it was the wrong place (that was where he was supposed to go to in an emergency), and that it was a little chaotic to set up a perimeter.

At the same time, at first, the Secret Service didn't even know the President had been shot.

 

[southerndoc]

Umm...I don't know all the facilities, but I DO know that, wherever Reagan was taken, it was the wrong place (that was where he was supposed to go to in an emergency), and that it was a little chaotic to set up a perimeter.

At the same time, at first, the Secret Service didn't even know the President had been shot.

I think if shot, he goes to the closest hospital, regardless. However, if he's in the White House and starts having chest pain, GWUMC is where he goes.

 

[Apollyon]

I think if shot, he goes to the closest hospital, regardless. However, if he's in the White House and starts having chest pain, GWUMC is where he goes.

Did you know that James Brady got to GWU first, despite Reagan having left 5 minutes before the ambulance got there? The Secret Service said "we got lost".

Because of this, huge conspiracy rumors float around. As they say, the Secret Service does NOT get lost. In DC. In any city. Ever.

Two factual things - first, despite 3 CXRs, they didn't see the bullet at first.

Second, his SC line curved up into his IJ. He kept complaining of an itch or tingle, but no one (because they were big, bad attendings) got a CXR. When they did, it was, "Oh my!"

And now, we routinely get CXRs for central lines.

 

[southerndoc]

Second, his SC line curved up into his IJ. He kept complaining of an itch or tingle, but no one (because they were big, bad attendings) got a CXR. When they did, it was, "Oh my!"

This is exactly why care for "big wigs" should still be provided by residents and not attendings. Attendings in academic centers do better jobs at supervising than doing. No offense to any attending is intended. The fact remains that attendings rarely do procedures, and they are accustomed to supervising. When you take an attending out of a supervising role and place him or her in the actual caregiver role, he or she is more subject to getting tunnel vision. An attending that remains in a supervisory role watching and analyzing things as they happen is able to distance him or herself and analyze things more effectively.

 

[BKN]

This is exactly why care for "big wigs" should still be provided by residents and not attendings. Attendings in academic centers do better jobs at supervising than doing. No offense to any attending is intended. The fact remains that attendings rarely do procedures, and they are accustomed to supervising. When you take an attending out of a supervising role and place him or her in the actual caregiver role, he or she is more subject to getting tunnel vision. An attending that remains in a supervisory role watching and analyzing things as they happen is able to distance him or herself and analyze things more effectively.

I would have said the same when I was a resident. Now I'm the go-to guy when the resident can't get a tube, a line, an LP etc.

And, if a screwup does occur in the president's care, you and the institution want it to happen with the senior guy in the hospital in the room.😎

 

[SoCuteMD]

I would have said the same when I was a resident. Now I'm the go-to guy when the resident can't get a tube, a line, an LP etc.

And, if a screwup does occur in the president's care, you and the institution want it to happen with the senior guy in the hospital in the room.😎

OH MY GOSH! BKN's next post will be #1000!!!

 

[BKN]

OH MY GOSH! BKN's next post will be #1000!!!

Thanks for noticing.

And, of course it's a

 

[BKN]

Thanks for noticing.

And, of course it's a

Cause i wouldn't have.

 

[dlung]

There's a VIP room at GWU with cushy couches, catered food, and a nice long hallway for the secret service to give you a long look-over as you're trying to catch a glimpse of the VIP... but sometimes VIPs end up in the ED too...