Experience That Lasts A Lifetime.
York Hospital's residency in obstetrics and gynecology is a four-year categorical program approved for three residents at each level. University affiliated, it is designed to train physicians for the general practice of obstetrics and gynecology, as well as to provide a solid foundation for further subspecialty training in fellowships.
Well-Seasoned, Credentialed Leadership.
The OB/GYN Residency program is organized by the Program Director and Department Chair, Dr. Marian Damewood and Associate Residency Program Directors, Dr. Patricia Reddy, Dr. Leslie Robinson and Dr. L. Martha Thomas.
The teaching staff consists of two Perinatologists, two Reproductive Endocrinologists, one Gynecologic Oncologist, two Gyn Oncology Fellows, one Obstetrician/Gynecologist with special interest and training in Urogynecology, six Neonatologists, 30 highly trained and dedicated Obstetrician/Gynecologists, five midwives, and two CRNP's.
A Well-Balanced Approach to Quality Education.
The first two years of residency concentrate on obstetrics and gynecology, with rotations on obstetrics (8 months), gynecologic surgery (8months) and ambulatory care with emphasis on Family Medicine (1 month), Emergency Medicine (1 month), and Outpatient Ambulatory.Gynecologic Surgery (1 month). In addition R-1 residents spend one month of Critical Care in an ICU setting. R-2 residents spend one month each of introduction to the subspecialty areas of Perina to logy, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Urogynecology and Geriatrics and Gynecologic Oncology. Geriatrics training occurs in several settings including a nursing home, assisted living and a geriatric office setting with geriatric assessment and dementia screening.
In the program's third year, emphasis is placed on the four subspecialties.
A four month Maternal Fetal Medicine rotation includes full genetic services, intensive fetal assessment, high-risk obstetrical ultrasound and Doppler technique as well as a two week rotation in the NICU. A four-month rotation combines Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI), Women's Imaging, Urogynecology and Breast Disease. The REI portion provides a wide range of microsurgery, diagnostic and operative endoscopic and laser techniques for the management of infertility. There.is also dedicated experience in Women's Imaging and Breast Disease for screening and diagnosis including mammography, bone densitometry, ultrasound, CT and MRI. The urogynecology portion provides diagnostic evaluation, complex urodynamics and management of urinary incontinence and pelvic floor disorders in a dedicated weekly clinic as well as on-going surgical experience in this field.
The final year ofthe program is divided between Gynecology, Obstetrics and Ambulatory Medicine. The Chief Residents take on a supervisor, leadership role and assume full responsibility for the Obstetrics Service, Gynecology Service and Ambulatory Women's Health Clinic. Chief Residents are also involved in Community Health Education programs for women of all ages.
A Careful Blending of Independence and Supervision.
A simulated practice environment with continuity clinics during all four years, gives each resident an opportunity for creative thinking, decision making and independent action. Senior residents also act as consultants for patients of other services. Our residency program has the advantage of enabling residents to interact with primary care physicians and to acquire skills in the art of consultation. Great emphasis is placed on quality improvement, clinical guidelines, cost containment and quality assurance in order to prepare the residents for success within tomorrow's health care environment.
Supervision is constant throughout training. The level of responsibility is progressive and is based on the development of skills and experience. Personal initiative, motivation and eagerness to learn are duly rewarded.
Comprehensive Outpatient Experience.
Over 10,318 outpatient visits in the residents' clinics provide a vast range of clinical cases and resident experience. Residents are responsible for the ambulatory care of the house service patients, charged with the scheduling of diagnostic tests, procedures, return visits, and hospital admission as necessary. Throughout the four years, residents attend continuity clinics, with the chief residents and attending preceptors supervising and directing these activities.
Attending obstetricians/gynecologists and subspecialists are present or readily available as teachers and consultants.
The ambulatory teaching setting includes combined Ob/Gyn continuity clinics, as well as a high-risk obstetrical clinic. A full range of testing procedures is available, including the most current techniques in fetal assessment, obstetrical ultrasound, Doppler and genetics.
The outpatient subspeciality clinics include, reproductive endocrinology, colposcopy with LEEP, urogynecology with urodynamic testing capability and gynecological oncology, including medical chemotherapy. Supervised by subspecialists and faculty with areas of particular expertise, these clinics provide a multidisciplinary approach for both house service and private patients.
Diverse Inpatient Experience.
In order to ensure maximum exposure to a broad range of clinical problems and a wide variety of techniques and therapeutic approaches, our inpatient teaching service provides care to both service and private patients. Active resident participation is structured throughout the four years on the private, as well as, the resident teaching service in both obstetrics and gynecology.
York Hospital's inpatient obstetrical services is housed in a state-of-the-art LDR/LDRP facility which includes two Cesarean section rooms, one intensive care room and the latest computer technology.
Our annual deliveries are just under 3,000, with about 600 deliveries on the residents' service. Ob/Gyn residents manage their own OB resident's service and assist in the Labor & Delivery management of private OB patients. Over 95% of the patients are followed by electronic fetal heart monitoring during the labor. The residents assist in the management of the labor and delivery of private patients, following these patients during the postpartum period. Fetal Pulse Oximetry and ultrasound are available on-premise. Twenty-four hour inhouse anesthesia services, attending and neonatal coverage further enhance this environment for effective teaching and comprehensive learning.
Gynecological surgical procedures are approximately 5,000 per year. In conjunction with the care of house service patients, the residents execute the pre-operative evaluation, maintain operative responsibilities and manage the post-operative period for private patients under the supervision of obstetricians/gynecologists and subspecialists. Residents are afforded the unique opportunity to acquire considerable surgical expertise in vaginal, diagnostic and operative laparoscopic, infertility and gynecological oncologic surgery in the traditional hospital operative suite and at a busy Outpatient Surgical Center.
A Strong Academic Foundation Enhances the Resident Clinical Experience.
Academic teaching is provided through weekly departmental meetings and Pathology, OB/GYN and subspecialty conferences (gynecology oncology, reproductive endocrinology, and maternal-fetal medicine). A Journal Club and Morbidity and Mortality Conference are held monthly. Guest lecturers of national and international reputation are regularly invited. The special educational sessions provide residents with tools and knowledge in total quality management, clinical guidelines and pathways, and financial outcome teaching to prepare for managed care environments. Residents also attend one major US conference each year of their choice and are encouraged to attend local or regional meetings. Opportunities exist to learn about the latest advancements in basic and clinical sciences, research and patient care.
Teaching is also imparted at the medical school level. York Hospital is a core hospital for Penn State Hershey, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Jefferson College of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania for the teaching of obstetrics and gynecology. Basic clerkship in obstetrics and gynecology, and elective rotations are offered throughout the year. The presence of medical students and other trainees allows residents to develop their own teaching skills as well. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology also conducts an active research program, with residents encouraged to become involved in ongoing research and required to participate in at least one research project during their four years of training.
A Stimulating, Challenging and Well-Structured Environment.
The OB/GYN Residency program of York Hospital maintains a critical balance between academic and clinical experiences, supplemented by primary care and subspecialty rotations. This balance enables residents to mature fully into well-qualified obstetricians/gynecologists, well-equipped to handle any challenges presented by the health care environment of tomorrow.
A dedicated 1/2 day of educational sessions is held each Wednesday morning covering core OB/GYN curriculum, pathology, primary care and subspecialty curriculum.
As a departure from didactic lectures, material is presented and discussed in a small group setting enhancing group discussion and assimilation of information. Residents are given ample opportunity to engage in research and also to present topics at grand rounds.
In addition, a weekly resident business meeting and regular team building session enhances communication and teamwork within the residency program.
A new state-of-the-art Simulation Center, opened in May 2008, provides new opportunities for education and evaluation of technical skills (e.g., laparoscopic trainers), teamwork, and interpersonal and communication skills (e.g., critical situation drills for shoulder dystocia, septic shock, etc.) and will play an increasingly important role in our curriculum.
Accreditation
The program was reviewed by the Residency Review Commission in Obstetrics and Gynecology in January, 2004. York Hospital Ob/Gyn Residency received excellent evaluations with full accreditation for five years.
A Supportive Environment.
Despite its large size, York Hospital provides a friendly backdrop for your residency. Here, a feeling of community exists. Ancillary assistance abounds, which for the resident translates into no bloods to draw, IVs to start, EKGs to run or patients to transport. Laboratory results are prompt.
Adding to the program advantages, York Hospital's diversity affords each resident experience with a wide range of clinical problems and educational opportunities.
While basic concepts can be taught, clinical decision making must be acquired through practice. In our OB/GYN program, early responsibility greatly aids the learning process by enabling residents to apply what has been learned. This approach to education not only makes for a strong four-year program, but makes the experience gained valuable throughout one's lifetime.