Clinical description

The general internal medicine service is staffed by five RCPSC certified internists and is further supported by two Respirologists who cross-cover on-call duties. The clinical activities of the general internal medicine service has two main components. The first is an inpatient internal medicine service that is staffed by an internist for a one-week block with other internists contributing to on-call. As only some sub-specialties admit patients at Royal Inland Hospital, the general internal medicine service manages a wide range of internal medicine problems. Typically patients are of high acuity. A large hospitalist service admits the majority of medical patients to Royal Inland Hospital and readily accepts patients in transfer from the general medicine service once acute issues have been addressed. The second component of the general internal medicine service is a hospital based weekly clinic schedule which includes a diabetes clinic, stress tests, myocardial perfusion imaging, vascular improvement clinic (risk reduction for vascular disease), and a preoperative clinic. ECGs performed at Royal Inland Hospital are interpreted by the general internal medicine service 5 days per week. 

Trainee expectations

Trainees rotating on the General Internal Medicine service will be given graded responsibility based on level of training and experience. The rotation will be offered to all trainees at levels ranging from medical students through to fellowship. A four-week block is considered standard and a minimum 2-week rotation is expected. A standard week of General Internal Medicine service runs Monday through Friday. For a four-week rotation trainees will typically spend three weeks on the inpatient service and one week attending outpatient clinics. Trainees are expected to do six nights of call, including one weekend day in a four-week rotation.