An Overview
Established in 1978, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center offered one of the country’s first Emergency Medicine training programs. Our busy, high-acuity county hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center, Pediatric Critical Care and Trauma Center, Disaster Resource Center, and STEMI Receiving Center that sees nearly 100,000 patients annually. We have a state-of-the-art Emergency Department that we moved into in 2014. It has three ultrasound machines in each pod in addition to a dedicated ultrasound machine and video laryngoscope in each resuscitation bay.
We have designed this subinternship as an immersive clinical experience during which you will develop skills in the emergency medicine diagnostic and management approach, critical care, medical resuscitation, and management of blunt and penetrating trauma. You will work closely with our outstanding residents and faculty at all levels of your patient’s care and participate in the didactic curriculum of the residency. We strive to cultivate the most robust clinical education in Emergency Medicine while providing you the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our underserved population.
If you are interested in a rotation, please apply via the VSAS service through the AAMC. If you have questions regarding rotation opportunities, please contact either the medical student coordinator (Ms. Lorie Fager) or the medical student clerkship director (Dr. Manpreet Singh) for assistance (contact information below).
We appreciate your interest in our clerkship, and we look forward to having the opportunity to work with you.
Clerkship Overview
Rotations in the emergency department at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center are four weeks in duration for all visiting students. UCLA students can opt for either a three- or four-week rotation, but we encourage those who plan to pursue a career in Emergency Medicine to participate in the four-week rotation to get the most exposure possible. Subinterns must be able to attend orientation on the first day of the rotation to ensure they have the proper badges and computer training before starting shifts.
Simulation
During orientation, we will have simulation exercises for you to get into the mindset of Emergency Medicine as well as to teach common presentations and management.
Ultrasound
We have several state-of-the-art ultrasound machines in our emergency department. We will train you to acquire and interpret basic bedside ultrasound images, giving you important diagnostic skills that you can further hone during your rotation.
Unembalmed Cadaver Lab
Depending on availability, we will have a two-day unembalmed/lightly-embalmed cadaver procedure lab, where you will learn to carry out the essential procedures of our specialty. We practice intubation, laceration repair, chest tubes, resuscitative thoracotomy, lateral canthotomy, arthrocentesis, central venous catheterization, intraosseous access, and more.
EMS Ride-Along
You will spend one day on an EMS ride-along so you can observe the care of our patients before they arrive at the emergency department.
Nursing Shift
You will shadow a nurse for one shift and help them start IVs, draw blood, attach patient monitors, place Foley catheters, and be able to see what our busy emergency department is like from the perspective of our nursing staff.
Weekly Conferences
You will join our residents for our weekly Thursday didactic conferences. The residents have protected time (during which the attendings and fellows staff the ED) to help build their core Emergency Medicine knowledge.
Application and Performance Review
The clerkship director offers an optional meeting to all medical students for one-on-one rotation performance and application feedback. We suggest that you meet with Dr. Singh during your rotation if you are interested in a SLOE.
Preparing For Your Clerkship
Please review the following before your first day, to ensure you get the most out of your rotation.
Using the Electronic Medical Record System ORCHID (Cerner)
We have made some videos to help you understand how to better navigate the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) we use. We will also train you in person on your orientation day, but you should review the information included beforehand to make your training more useful. Please check this YouTube training video link to get a basic understanding of ORCHID before attending orientation.
Parking
Parking may be limited during your rotation. You may park in any unmarked spot, but please ensure you read all signs. The three-story parking garage (Lot D) only allows visitors to park on the top floor during most hours. You can check in for orientation in the N-14 building on the map and ask for Chanel or Lorie. Here’s the parking map.
Educational Resources
Ddxof is a compilation of cases based on real patients, each inspiring an algorithm for the evaluation and management of their chief complaint or diagnosis.
EM Basic is a great resource to hear podcasts of basic “approach to (symptom/complaint)” lectures as well as some core content. If you have a commute or need something to listen to at the gym or while running errands, this is a great way to fill that time.
Dr. Manpreet Singh, a Harbor-UCLA faculty member, is a co-founder of this website. It gives you great management pearls on everything EM-related.
This is a pediatric EM-based podcast created by our very own Dr. Tim Horeczko. If you’re interested in honing your critical pediatric emergency management, this is a great resource to go to.
Developed by Harbor-UCLA’s Dr. Kelly Young, this website is your source for all things Pediatric Emergency Medicine. The website includes links to on-shift resources and PEM FOAM sites, as well as algorithms, guidelines, and the evidence behind it all.
Developed at Harbor-UCLA by Dr. Ross Donaldson, WikEM is a great point-of-care reference when on a shift. Download it to your phone (we have Wi-Fi in the ED) and use it to look up important information before presenting your patient. It’s a “must-have” app in the emergency department.
There are many other resources out there; our specialty has an outstanding online presence with Free Open Access Medical Education (FOAM/FOAMed). If you find any resources to be very helpful during your rotation, please let us know and we can add them to the website.
Apply
Apply for a Clerkship
2024-2025 Academic Year Rotation Dates: 6/17, 7/15, 8/12, 9/9, 10/7, 11/4, 12/2, 1/6
Rotations will start on the dates listed. All visiting students must participate in a four-week rotation. UCLA students are required to do at least the three-week rotation but we suggest you do a fourth week if you’re interested in Emergency Medicine.
Applications
You can access applications online via VSLO. Please send an email to Lorie Fager, the medical student coordinator, with any specific application-related questions.
Once we accept you for a rotation with us, you also have to meet all the requirements of the Department of Health Services at Los Angeles County for a rotation, which include:
- Health Clearance Packet (E2 Form)
- Background Investigation
- Respiratory Fit Test
- Online Application
You must also complete a Workforce Member form at http://dhs.lacounty.gov/cef. When completing the form:
- Select “New Assignment.”
- The Sponsor Facility is Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
- The Sponsor Division is Emergency Medicine.
- The Sponsor’s Name is Manpreet Singh.
You can find the required forms and Live Scan fingerprinting on the VSLO website, or we will email them to you upon your rotation approval by program coordinators, Chanel Carter or Lorie Fager. Please send an email to the coordinators with any questions about this process.
Contact Information
Lorie Fager
Medical Student Coordinator
Manpreet Singh, MD, MBE, FACEP
Medical Student Clerkship Director