Question 1

Is your program 3 years or 4?

Accepted Answer

We are currently ACGME accredited as a three year training program for all residents.

Question 2

Is there ultrasound experience?

Accepted Answer

Every month we dedicate 2 hours of lecture to ultrasound training. Dr. Grant Nelson is fellowship trained in ultrasound, and Dr. Korbin Haycock is RCMS and RDMS certified. There are also two month-long rotations in ED US during your 1st and 2nd years. We expect our graduates to be proficient in the use of bedside ultrasound evaluation. We have two ultrasound machines, with the newest addition being the Mindray TE7.

Question 3

What do didactics consist of?

Accepted Answer

Our didactic curriculum consists of 5 hours of weekly material. Most lectures are given by the faculty physicians. Residents are responsible for giving 2 or 3 lectures per year. Each month a new system is covered, with topics developed in correlation to chapter readings from Tintinalli, and the entire curriculum is covered every 1.5 years. One hour per week is done asynchronously.
 
Aside from lectures, we devote one hour monthly to EM Foundations, which involves a small group and problem based experience going through clinical cases or EKGs.

Question 4

How do you prepare for oral boards?

Accepted Answer

We hold mock oral exams every year, and try to recreate test settings. Residents undergo monthly simulation cases, structured to simulate the oral board experience.

Question 5

Will I see pediatric patients?

Accepted Answer

Our ED sees 70,000 patients a year, 20% of which are pediatrics. Our residents also will rotate through the PICU at Loma Linda University 4 weeks in their 3rd year.

Question 6

Who do medical students, interns or 2nd year residents present cases to?"

Accepted Answer

All residents present cases to the attending physician. The intensity of the supervision varies based upon the competency of the individual resident. Our goal is to foster independence as training evolves. Interns do not currently present to the senior resident. Medical students can run cases by a senior resident, but they will ultimately be supervised directly by an attending physician.

Question 7

How many shifts do the residents do per month?

Accepted Answer

Eighteen 10 hour shifts

Question 8

Will I get enough procedures?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Below is a snapshot of a procedure log for one of our 2nd year residents at the beginning of the year.  Our senior residents will frequently serve a supervisory role during their procedures to interns and medical students, as they will have already become proficient in them.
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Question 9

What other residency programs are there in the hospital?

Accepted Answer

Surgery, Transitional and Family Medicine.

Question 10

Is moonlighting allowed?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in the 3rd year.

Question 11

What is the patient population like at DRMC?

Accepted Answer

We see a diverse patient population. We are a level 1 trauma center with a large catchment area. We see not only blunt trauma from motor vehicle accidents but plenty of penetrating trauma. During the winter, the city’s population swells 3x as many snowbirds from Canada and the Midwest temporarily move here. We serve a population with a high rate of HIV, a large geriatric population, and a large Spanish-speaking population. We are also home to one of the largest LGBTQ communities in the country.

Question 12

How much trauma is there?

Accepted Answer

We are a level I trauma center, and the only trauma center for a very large catchment area that includes Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial counties. Trauma patients are attended to by the trauma surgery and the emergency medicine teams.

Question 13

What is the relationship between the residents and the faculty?

Accepted Answer

We believe in fostering a family-like atmosphere. We get together multiple times a year for journal club (and occasionally even discuss articles). Our faculty are very present during shifts, and accessible off shifts as well. Each resident is assigned to a faculty mentor.  There are always multiple attendings during weekly lectures.

Question 14

What are the faculty like?

Accepted Answer

Our faculty are a part of Vituity, all emergency medicine board certified. There are 40 hours of faculty coverage per day. The faculty’s goal is to produce residents who are self sufficient and able to manage a busy ED.

Question 15

What is Palm Springs like?

Accepted Answer

Palm Springs has a touristy vibe, especially in the winter. There is a small town feel. Nearby Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage have a wide selection of shopping and restaurants. In the area there are a lot of hiking trails, as we are close to Joshua Tree and Big Bear. We are 2 hours from Newport Beach, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Sunny clear blue skies year-round are typical of Palm Springs weather.

Question 16

Are there research opportunities?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We are a clinically-focused residency program, and our attendings are not exclusively focused on research. However, all of our residents are involved with research projects with faculty members. There is a hospital IRB for research projects. We also have multiple case publications, poster presentations and image submissions.

Question 17

What is the resident salary?

Accepted Answer

PGY-1 – $71,760
PGY-2 – $73,216
PGY-3 – $74,659

Question 18

What are the resident benefits?

Accepted Answer

• Medical
 • Dental
 • Vision
 • 401(K) plan
 • FSAs, HSAs, and HRAs.
 • Life, AD&D and Disability Insurance
 • Hyatt Legal
 • Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 • Tenet Personal Health Team and Employee Assistance Program
 • Vacation – 4 weeks (20 business days) per academic year
 • $3,725 for conferences, books, and self-education materials.
 • $1,314 for incidental expenses related to residency (Step 3 exam, DEA, CA license, membership fees).

FAQs