Cardiology
This is a one-block rotation in the first year of residency. Each resident is assigned to the supervision of a cardiologist, seeing patients in inpatient and outpatient settings. The goal of this rotation is to experience cardiology in various settings as it applies to the family physician. Clinical competency is stressed in five main areas: angina, congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, acute coronary syndrome, and arrhythmias. Following completion, residents should be competent in EKG interpretation, concepts of preload and afterload, proper use of pharmacologic agents in cardiology, and the use of diagnostic modalities.
The resident will be able to discuss the indications, contraindications, complications, and limitations of the following diagnostic tests:
- Echocardiogram
- EKGs (with interpretation)
- Stress testing (including regadenoson, dobutamine, exercise stress in conjunction with Radionucleotide scan or echocardiography
- Cardiac catheterization
- Thrombolytic therapy
- Coronoary artery bypass surgery
- Revascularization procedures