CHARACTERISTICS OF EMERGENCY-MEDICINE RESIDENT ORIENTATION PROGRAMS

Objective: To determine the prevalence, duration, composition, and goa ls of emergency medicine resident orientation programs. Methods: Eleve n-item, descriptive mail surveys were sent by the education committee of SAEM to the program directors of all emergency medicine residency p rograms approved by the RRC as of January 1992. Results: Sixty-nine of 86 survey instruments (80%) were returned. Orientation programs were offered in 64 residencies, 41 PGY1-3 programs, five PGY1-4 programs, a nd 18 PGY2-4 programs. Results are tabulated below. [GRAPHICS] No stat istically significant difference between groups was found. Seven diffe rent special courses were offered. Conclusion: Resident orientation pr ograms are used in 93% of surveyed programs in emergency medicine. Ori entation programs consist mainly of lectures and special courses. Ther e is great variability in the length, composition, goals, and associat ed courses offered. Orientation programs do not differ significantly b y postgraduate year in which the residency begins.