The Veterans Administration Medical Center at Northport is an integrated facility in the academic program of the State University of New York at Stony Brook. The radiology residency training program is similarly integrated. The curriculum of each area through which the resident rotates at the Northport VA is the same as that at the University Hospital at Stony Brook. (Please refer to other SUNY Stony Brook Curriculum such as Neuroradiology, Gastrointestinal Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Chest Radiology, etc. for the curriculum.)
The Northport Veterans Administration rotations provide 2 additional educational opportunities that are not available at the Stony Brook Campus.
1) There is extensive exposure to many patients with chronic illnesses not as frequently found in a primarily acute care facility such as the University Hospital at Stony Brook.
2) The daily practice of radiology at Northport VA is less compartmentalized than at a large tertiary care center such as the University Hospital. Each of the outstanding Northport VA faculty radiologists practices many of the subspecialties of radiology each day. Thus the resident is exposed to a style of practice that is common in the community hospital setting but which is uncommon in a tertiary care university hospital.
VA Diagnostic Radiology Rotation Junior, years 1 and 2 of training. Goals
- Demonstrate learning of the knowledge based objectives
- Accurately perform and dictate gastrointestinal and genitourinary studies.
- Accurately interpret and dictate plain film studies.
- Communicate effectively with referring clinicians
- Including obtaining relevant history for study interpretation
- Regarding important findings on studies performed
- Demonstrate learning of the clinical indications for ordering and using radiological examinations including advanced imaging such as CT, US and MRI.
- Demonstrate responsible work ethic.
This would include being present at the VA hospital at 8:30 A.M, and throughout the work day, completion of dictation of all reviewed studies in a timely manner, attendance at all departmental teaching conferences, and grand rounds presentations. - Facilitate the learning of peers, other professionals participating in the VA medical center service including nurse practitioners, radiology technology students.
- Build confidence in reading ER and STAT plain film studies.
- Contribute at least 2 cases per month to the Radiology Department Teaching File
The above rotational goals incorporate the core competencies as follows:
Medical Knowledge - Goals 1 and 5
Interpersonal and Communication Skills - Goals 2, 3 and 4
Practice Based Learning and Improvement - Goal 7
Professionalism - Goal 6
Patient Care - Goals 3, 4 and 5
Assessment tools utilized -
1) Global ratings by faculty including rotation evaluation sheet
2) Conference attendance logs
3) In-service examination
Plan - Develop 360 degree evaluations
Individuals to be included - technologists on day shift in radiology core, technology supervisor for radiology core, students involved in the rotation
VA Diagnostic Radiology Senior Rotation: Years 2, 3 and 4
Goals
- Demonstrate learning of the knowledge based objectives for junior and senior.
- Accurately dictate plain film studies and well as GI/GU studies.
- Demonstrate ability to protocol CT studies to optimize examination to address clinical question posed. Demonstrate ability to critically analyze reconstructed images for proper technique and plane of reconstruction.
- Demonstrate understanding of most frequently utilized pulse sequences for MR imaging, including musculoskeletal and body MRI.
- Begin to develop ability to protocol MR examinations.
- Communicate effectively with referring clinicians
- Including obtaining relevant history for study interpretation
- Regarding important findings on studies performed
- Begin to develop familiarity and skill in performing specific procedures, i.e. CT guided biopsies, CT guided drainage procedures. Also, vascular interventional procedures which are performed by the Attending Vascular Radiologist from Stony Brook
- Demonstrate responsible work ethic.
This would include being present at the VA Medical Center at 8:30A.M, and the work day, completion of dictation of all reviewed studies in a timely manner, at all departmental teaching conferences, grand rounds presentations and tumor board.- Facilitate the learning of peers, other professionals participating in the patient care at the VA medical center including nurse practitioners, and physical therapy students.
- Contribute at least 2 cases per month to the Radiology Department Teaching File
The above rotational goals incorporate the core competencies as follows:
Medical Knowledge - Goals 1,3,4,5 and 7
Interpersonal and Communication Skills - Goals 2 and 6
Practice Based Learning and Improvement - Goals 6 , 7, and 9
Professionalism - Goal 5 Patient Care - Goals 3,5, and 6
Systems Based Practice - Goal 9
Assessment tools utilized -
Global ratings by faculty
Conference attendance logs
Multi-disciplinary conference attendance logs
In-service examinationPlan - Develop 360 degree evaluations
Individuals to be included - technologists on day shift in radiology
VA Radiology Rotation 4 - Elective
In addition to all the goals of the junior and senior rotations the following goals apply to the elective:Have a thorough understanding of all aspects of Diagnostic radiology
Act as a consultant for referring physicians
Perform all procedures
Correlate pathologic and clinical data
Suggest a research project
Assessment tools utilized -
Global ratings by faculty
Conference attendance logs
Multi-disciplinary conference attendance logs
In-service examinationPlan - Develop 360 degree evaluations
Individuals to be included - technologists on day shift in radiology.
