The thoracic surgery service sees a high volume of patients with chest disease, and performs a broad range of procedures related to the thoracic cavity including, but not limited to thoracotomy, thoracoscopy, bronchoscopy, mediastinoscopy, pulmonary wedge resection, lobectomy, pneumonectomy, endoscopy, esophageal stenting, esophageal myotomy, esophagectomy, hiatal hernia repair, antireflux surgery, etc. The service cares for a number of postoperative patients, and frequently consults on patients with complex needs on other services. Due to the nature of thoracic disease, patients can be quite ill during the perioperative and postoperative period. The sub-intern student will be an integral part of the thoracic surgery team in the operating room, inpatient unit, and outpatient clinic at Boston Medical Center during this 4-week sub-internship experience. Students will be responsible for evaluation and management of their own patients under the direct supervision of attending surgeons and residents, and will care for at least three new patients per week, performing histories and physicals, coordinating care, etc. They will perform procedures as appropriate, including venipuncture, IV placement, arterial blood gas, foley catheter placement, nasogastric tube insertion, bronchoscopy, thoracostomy, and closure of surgical wounds, all under appropriate supervision. The sub-intern will also take call with the surgical team on a regular schedule. As Boston University is a teaching program, students will also have the opportunity to enhance their teaching skills by assisting in the education of clerkship students in the operating room as well as the inpatient and outpatient settings. The goals for the rotation include: · Assist in the care for acute and chronic disease seen in these surgical patients, as evaluated and managed by the service · Learn pre-operative and post-operative management of patients undergoing thoracic procedures · Obtain introductory training in thoracic surgery procedures such as bronchoscopy, endoscopy, thoracentesis, chest tube placement/management/removal, etc · Function as a sub-intern with responsibilities commensurate with this educational requirement: o Function as acting interns responsible for the evaluation and continued management of their own patients, under the direct supervision of the attending physicians and residents. o Care for at least three new patients per week, and possibly more depending on the opportunities for patient care. o As part of patient care you will be expected to do the following: perform initial history and physicals, write orders, assist in coordinating care, assist with or perform supervised procedures as applicable and appropriate for the sub-intern, present cases, use evidence-based medicine principles to help guide patient care, participate in teaching sessions, and take call alongside residents and attending physicians. Students should report to morning rounds at the thoracic surgery workroom on Menino 3rd floor IMCU (near patient bed 30)

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