POSTGRADUATE YEAR-1

The first postgraduate psychiatric year provides the resident with medical skills most relevant to psychiatric practice and introductory inpatient psychiatric experiences.  Residents rotate on internal medicine and/or family medicine services and in the Departments of Neurology and Emergency Medicine.  The goals of the first year medical rotations are as follows:

• to adequately obtain historical information and complete physical examinations and order appropriate diagnostic studies
  
  
• to diagnose common medical and surgical conditions and formulate initial treatment plans
  
  
• to provide continuity of care for patients with medical illnesses and determine appropriate referrals
  
  
• to become familiar with medical conditions that may display symptoms likely to be regarded as psychiatric and vice versa
  
  
• to appreciate the interplay of medical and psychiatric factors involved in the expression of medical illnesses

The PGY-1 resident spends approximately seven months on general inpatient and emergency psychiatry services during the first residency year.  The goals of this clinical training are for the resident to gain proficiency with the following:

• to understand elements of differential diagnosis and treatment of various 
  psychiatric conditions
  
  
• to obtain clear and accurate historical information and perform complete physical, neurological, and mental status examinations
  
  
• to be able to systematically record pertinent historical and examination information and communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary team
  
  
• to appreciate and uphold the ethical and personal attributes comprising professional integrity