Rotations & Schedules

Program Structure

First-year residents are exposed to a diverse population of patients with a broad mix of complex diseases and bread-and-butter medicine. Interns will rotate through general medicine, subspecialty training within oncology, cardiology, hepatology and several of our intensive care units. Patient volumes and teams are structured to provide adequate support with an emphasis on learning. We have a night float system in place for all rotations.

Call Schedule: Generally every four to six days during daytime hours
Vacation: Three weeks

Structure: 4+1+1

Four-week inpatient block
One-week night float or elective
One-week outpatient experience

The outpatient experiences are in core general internal medicine and subspecialty clinics, including a continuity clinic and additional ambulatory blocks.

Sample Resident Schedule, Year 1

Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5*	Week 6*
Inpatient	Inpatient	Inpatient	Inpatient	Elective or Vacation	Aircall or Nights

*Weeks 5 and 6 are interchangeable.

Block
1a	Cardiology Consults
1b	NMH Wards
2a	NMH Wards
2b	Nephrology Clinic
3a	CCU
3b	CCU
4a	Pulmonology Consults
4b	NMH Wards
5a	NMH Wards
5b	EP Consults/Vacation
6a	Inpatient Cardiology
6b	VA Wards
7a	VA Wards
7b	Night Float/Rheum OP
8a	MICU
8b	MICU
9a	Geriatrics
9b	Hematology/Oncology
10a	VA Urgent Care
10b	NMH Wards
11a	Hepatology
11b	Hepatology
12a	Hematology/Oncology
12b	Night Flat/Endocrinology Clinic
13a	NMH Wards
13b	NMH Wards

Outpatient time is significantly increased, with greater emphasis on continuity of care. In addition, there are numerous elective rotations to provide broad exposure and personalize training.

Vacation: Four weeks

Sample Resident Schedule, Year 2

Block
1	Endocrine Consults
2	NMH Wards
3	Jesse Brown VA Critical Care Unit
4	Research
5	Research
6	Hepatology
7	Rheumatology Consults, Night Float
8	VA ER
9	Allergy Consults, MICU Night Float
10	NMH Wards
11	VA Wards
12	Outpatient GI
13	MICU

Sample Resident Schedule, Year 3

Block
1	Benign Hematology Consults
2	Hematology/ Oncology Service
3	NMH Wards
4	CCU
5	Nephrology Outpatient
6	Geriatrics, Neurology, Palliative Care Consults
7	Research
8	NMH ER
9	Nephrology Consults
10	ID Consults
11	Procedure Elective
12	NMH Wards
13	Cardiology Service

Sample Daily Schedule

Time	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.	Morning Report	Morning Report	Morning Report	Morning Report	Morning Report
8:30 - 11 a.m.	Teaching Rounds	Teaching Rounds	Teaching Rounds	Teaching Rounds	Teaching Rounds
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.	Structured Interdisciplinary Rounds	Structured Interdisciplinary Rounds	Structured Interdisciplinary Rounds	Structured Interdisciplinary Rounds	Structured Interdisciplinary Rounds
12 - 1 p.m.	Core Curriculum	Resident Talks	Grand Rounds	Firm Conference	CPC
Afternoon	Various educational activities: team teaching, simulation, workshops, research

Conferences

Daily morning report for residents and interns at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the VA
- System and quality education — including M&M and root-cause analysis conferences — incorporated into morning report
Weekly Medical Grand Rounds
Year-round board reviews, proven effective in preparing residents, leading to one of the highest 10-year boards pass rates in the country
Procedural skills training (e.g., central line placement and physical exam skills) using hands-on, one-to-one, simulation-based instruction
Point-of-care ultrasound skills through an interactive curriculum
Monthly journal club with core faculty
Soft skills training (e.g., professionalism, end-of-life discussions and social determinants of health)

Additionally, residents each give a “PGY2 Grand Rounds” noon conference presentation and lead at least one Morning Report. These experiences are mentored by chief residents and faculty and are part of the residency curriculum.