Department of Plastic Surgery
(909) 558-5500
PGY VI Resident Rotation
Riverside County Regional Medical Center/Hand (Six-month rotation)
A primary goal of this clinical service is to provide an environment where the PGY VI resident can function with the guidance of the full time attending staff but also have significant responsibility for the management of his/her own service and exercise independent judgment in patient care. Riverside County Regional Medical Center (RCRMC) offers a broad range of general plastic surgery exposure and ambulatory plastic surgery. The plastic surgery Chief resident will be in charge of the upper extremity service that is jointly chiefed by the attendings in the department of orthopedics and the division of plastic surgery. Since there are no orthopedic residents at this institution, this will allow a significant and undiluted exposure to all aspects of upper extremity reconstruction including not only post-traumatic problems and fractures but also late reconstructive procedures including the management of peripheral nerve injuries and rheumatoid reconstruction. In addition, there are a relatively large number of reconstructive procedures including (but not limited to) pressure sores, lower limb trauma, and maxillofacial trauma.
The plastic surgery service at RCRMC is currently staffed by two faculty members (one of whom is the chief of service). All other attending staff in Loma Linda University Medical Center have current staff privileges and full operating privileges at RCRMC so that appropriate cross coverage and supervision of the resident staff can always be maintained. The plastic surgery service weekly schedule includes two days of major operating room time and ½ day in the designated outpatient surgery area for more minor procedures. The clinic schedule includes one (1) full day of general plastic surgery clinic and ½ day dedicated hand surgery clinic. It is anticipated that the resident will schedule and operate on the majority of patients as surgeon.
The PGY VI resident will oversee a team including an intern-level resident rotating from Loma Linda University Medical Center affiliated general surgery program and any medical students who may elect a preceptorship with the on-site service chief. He/she will be responsible for the management of all plastic surgery inpatients and will perform all inpatient consultations. His/her administrative duties will include responsibility for clinic and operating room scheduling and the intern's daily assignments. On this rotation, the PGY VI resident will be given specific teaching responsibilities including the conduct of several specific core lectures which are integrated into the general surgery teaching program and may function as teaching assistant on more minor surgery procedures for the benefit of the intern in general surgery. The resident will be responsible for any general plastic surgery emergencies in the emergency room. The service will also cover one third of all maxillofacial trauma received at the hospital.
This particular rotation offers a progressive and increased level of responsibility for the resident and provides excellent continuity of care. The PGY VI resident will attend all relevant clinics and follow each patient from presentation throughout surgery and postoperative care.