Junior Resident

Recognizing Disposition

As a new intern, one of the most important tasks you will face is recognizing the disposition for the patient early on in their emergency department course. Ideally, you will be training at a facility that has an emergency department operating unit (EDOU), an din particular, an OU managed by emergency physicians. For the first year of residency, the focus should be on becoming familiar with the different protocols and determining which patients are suitable for the OU vs. an inpatient admission using inclusion and exclusion criteria found in the protocols.

OU Protocols and Plans

Upon admitting patients to the OU, you may be expected to place orders and select protocols for their short hospital stay, with the ultimate goal being to have the patient evaluated and ready for discharge within 23 hours. Following up on that patient's OU course after discharge is particularly important for learning. Did the patient's OU course follow your proposed protocol, or were changes made by the OU physician and specialist?

OU Mentors

If you are interested in OU medicine, another goal during intern year should be to establish a mentor in the field. Reach out to the OU director at your hospital and explain your interest, offer to become involved with research projects, and attend any OU administrative meetings.