The Department of Emergency Medicine offers a 10-20 hour preclerkship elective program for 1st and 2nd year University of Ottawa medical students. Each student is paired with either a senior resident or staff physicians whom he/she will shadow for the duration of the elective.

Objectives

1. To introduce the student to the clinical discipline of Emergency Medicine.

2. To introduce the student to the working environment of the ED

3. To introduce the student to the unique nature of Emergency Medicine practice.

   • concise histories and physical exams

   • simultaneous patient evaluation and treatment

   • differentiate seriously ill patients from those with minor complaints

Year 1 and 2 electives

Year 1 and 2 longitudinal electives

• Year 1 students: 10 hours

• Year 2 students: 10 hours or 20 hours for non-mandatory elective.

• Electives with a resident must be completed within the resident’s 1 month block.

• An elective with a staff physician may be completed over a 1-2 month period.

• The student and staff/resident will be notified of a pairing for an elective. The student will then contact the staff/resident by email to arrange a schedule.

• The student schedule will be set based on the schedule and availability of the resident /staff.

Mandatory Year 2 elective

• A 20 hour mandatory year 2 elective during Spring Break.

• There will be a maximum of 4 students per site during the March break week and during the mandatory elective week.

• The shifts can occur during the day, evening, or weekend.

• The shifts will be assigned by the Undergraduate Coordinator.

Elective application

This is a popular program and unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate everyone who applies.

Please contact the EMIG representatives, who can guide you through the lottery process.

Evaluations

The student will receive an evaluation at the end of their elective. They must push the UOttawa link for their evaluation to their preceptor who will complete it.

Cancelling an elective

If the student is unable to do the elective within the assigned month, they must notify Margaret King at [email protected] immediately, who will assign another student to the elective.

There are a limited number of elective positions available in Emergency Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Preference is given to students in their last year of medical studies. Please look over the policy carefully to ensure that you have the requirements needed to process your application. Medical students from the University of Ottawa should apply through our separate application form: you may contact your EMIG rep for more information.

At the University of Ottawa, we are dedicated to excellence in emergency medicine teaching. This mission certainly extends to our elective students. Students will have the opportunity to assess and manage a broad range of patients presenting to the emergency department of a tertiary care university teaching hospital. Students will hone their ability to do focused history and physical exams, develop a differential diagnosis, and make decisions regarding patient investigations, treatment and disposition. This elective affords the opportunity for hands-on care and procedures for the full range of patient presentations from minor complaints to major life-threatening illness and injury. The student will be supervised by clinical teachers of emergency medicine. The student will be able to participate in a variety of teaching opportunities: monthly journal club and weekly academic day, PGY1 rounds, emergency case rounds and Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds. We also offer dedicated teaching sessions and simulation sessions just for elective students which occur approximately every two weeks.

During our peak elective period from September to November pre-CaRMS applications, electives will only start every other Monday. Only 2 electives during this time will be accepted. Outside of this period, 3 week electives will be available but not preferable.

Cancellation policy:

Emergency Medicine has a restricted number of elective positions, which are in high demand by your colleagues. If you decide to cancel this elective, you must inform us 6 weeks prior to the start date to allow us to offer this elective to other students. Cancellation of this elective later than 6 weeks prior to start will be considered an unprofessional behaviour; and a note reflecting this will be sent to your undergraduate Dean.

Objectives

• To provide the student with the opportunity to gain experience in assessing a wide range of clinical problems seen in a teaching hospital emergency department;

• To improve the student's ability to take an accurate and concise history and physical exam in the undifferentiated patient;

• To improve the student's ability to develop a differential diagnosis, investigation plan, treatment, and disposition of the undifferentiated patient;

• To improve the student's technical skills in providing patient care in the ED.

• To improve communication, collaboration, and professional skills required for patient care in the ED.

Prerequisites

• Must have done 3 months core clerkship OR 4 weeks of emergency medicine electives.

• Must be available for day/evening/weekend shifts.

• Please ensure you have these prerequisites prior to applying for your elective, as without them your application request will be declined.

Application

Application must be submitted at least 4 months prior to the elective date

All University of Ottawa students must apply through the dedicated UOttawa Emergency Medicine Elective application. Please contact your EMIG representative for more detailed information. This online application form will open in early February. Please DO NOT contact Margaret King directly to apply, you will be directed to use the online application form. This process only applies to the Department of Emergency Medicine, Civic and General campuses. Senior electives at the Montfort, CHEO, Queensway and peripheral hospital emergency departments operate their own applications.

All NON University of Ottawa students must apply through the AFMC student portal. Please ensure you will have met prerequisites as listed below and will have completed adequate core/elective rotations.