Training Facility: Hampton Veterans Administration
Medical Center
The Veterans Administration Medical Center is
a major training site for our residency program. Located in a
beautiful setting on the banks of Hampton Roads, this historic
hospital provides a variety of learning experiences for psychiatry
residents.
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Hampton
Veterans Administration
Medical Center |
First-year residents have two separate two-month internal medicine rotations
at the VAMC. Working alongside internal medicine residents, they care
for patients in the ICU and on the wards. We have the opportunity to
work with specialists, particularly those in the HIV, renal, oncology
and infectious diseases fields. There is a unique opportunity to
become familiar with caring for patients with spinal cord injuries and
those who are on ventilators.
The first-year neurology rotation is also at the VAMC. Residents
work directly with an attending to care for both inpatients on the
consult service and outpatients. The Epilepsy Clinic is a wonderful
opportunity to learn about seizure disorders and their care.
First-year residents also rotate on the inpatient psychiatry wards.
The wide variety of patients make this an excellent rotation. Working
with an attending and a senior resident, the first-year resident cares
for patients with PTSD, schizophrenia, substance abuse, mood
disorders, and the full gamut of psychiatric illnesses. We learn a
great deal about psychopharmacology as well as the management of
different illnesses. There is the opportunity to lead therapy groups
as well as provide a small amount of supportive psychotherapy.
Experience with ECT is also a part of this rotation.
In the second year of psychiatry residency, residents spend three months
working in the emergency department, seeing patients who come in
seeking psychiatric care. Working closely with an experienced
psychiatric nurse and an attending, we evaluate patients and make the
decision whether to hospitalize them, start medications, refer them or
send them home. This rotation is quite challenging but rewarding!
In third year, residents work in the outpatient Mental Hygiene
Clinic, providing medication management, evaluations and therapy to a
wide variety of patients. These residents work closely with clinic
staff and are supervised by staff psychiatrists. This position offers
a great deal of autonomy and is a wonderful opportunity for residents
to solidify the knowledge they have gained in the first two years of
residency.
In fourth year, there is a geriatric psychiatry rotation. During
this month, we work with an attending to care for older psychiatric
patients in the nursing home, on the medical wards, and evaluate them
in the emergency department. This rotation underscores the many
concepts of geriatric care that are taught in didactics throughout the
years.
The fourth year of residency includes a two-month substance abuse
rotation at the VA hospital. Residents work within well-established
substance abuse recovery programs and are an integral part of the
team. The programs are directed by two attendings who are
board-certified in substance abuse. Residents have a unique
opportunity to become familiar with many of the elements of treating
those in recovery and to broaden their awareness of substance abuse
issues.
Also in fourth year, there is a four-month Senior Resident rotation
on the inpatient psychiatry wards. This resident directly supervises a
first-year resident and a medical student, and works alongside an
attending. This very responsible position is invaluable in solidifying
our knowledge of psychopharmacology, psychodynamics and management of
all major psychiatric disorders. Top |
