Essential Requirements for Residents in Otolaryngology-HNS

The intent of our program is to develop leaders in academic otolaryngology.  We anticipate that tomorrow’s leaders in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery will be characterized as translational researchers, individuals who have prepared themselves for leadership through exposure to both research and clinical training.  We believe that this will require strong clinical knowledge and skills, an aptitude towards research, be it basic science, clinical or epidemiological, and most importantly a drive to achieve personal excellence.  Our goal is to train you to become a mature and capable surgeon by providing you with a series of supervised patient care experiences in a system of graduated responsibility. 

The otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency at the University of Washington is an intensive program designed to provide comprehensive research and clinical training in the discipline.  We provide structured development through a series of clinical and research rotations supplemented by an active didactic program.  The clinical rotations are designed to provide graduated responsibility in terms of both the complexity of surgical procedures performed and medical decision making.  This graduated responsibility is not restrictive, allowing exceptional residents to express their skills at an accelerated rate.

Personal development is the essence of our educational mission.  In the postgraduate environment the programmatic emphasis is on support for self-education and mature self-evaluation.  The process of becoming a superior surgical clinician requires exposure, reflection and an unflinching commitment to personal honesty.  This is a lifelong process.  We will assist your evolution toward maturity in the discipline largely through daily exposure to a faculty that has been selected on the basis of their demonstrated commitment to this ideal.  Various conferences, journal clubs, intermittent self-assessment examinations, and constructive criticism from the faculty will augment your education during each rotation.

We will assess your performance in eight broad areas as defined by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirements:

Patient Care

Must be able to obtain a history, perform a physical exam of the head and neck and related areas, evaluate pertinent laboratory information, radiographic studies, pathology and outside clinical charts and integrate this clinical information to generate a differential diagnosis and make appropriate treatment recommendations.  The resident must be able to incorporate signs and symptoms transmitted by verbal and non-verbal communication.  This process must be performed within a time frame appropriate for the specific patient, demonstrating increasing speed and efficiency with increasing clinical acuity.

Technical Skills:  What you can do with your hands, hand-eye coordination; care in handling tissues. Skills must be observable:

• Must have the physical ability to perform the tasks required by the RRC for certification.
  
• Must have ability to perform a basic physical examination in a reasonable time (30 minutes).
  
• Must have ability to physically respond rapidly to evaluate and control emergency situations which requires rapid mobility and full sensory motor capacity.
  
• Must have ability to perform above functions and demonstrate stamina under stressful emotional and physical conditions while not adversely impacting other members of the resident team.
  
• Must have ability to tie surgical knots, appropriately handle surgical instruments, and attain competence in the basic general otolaryngology surgical procedures.
  
• Must have visual and spatial capabilities.

Medical Knowledge

• Must have the intellectual ability to learn the data required by the RRC for certification.
  
• Must be able to complete written and oral examinations in a reasonable time period.
  
• Must be able to pass certification tests such as the inservice exam in the standard time.

Practice Based Learning

• Must be able to accept and learn from constructive criticism.
  
• Must be able and willing to teach others.
  
• Must be able to incorporate feedback to better professional skills.

Interpersonal/Communication Skills

• Must be able to perform all aspects of residency while under stress.
  
• Must treat patients, staff and faculty with respect.
  
• Must be able to communicate and work cooperatively with others in a collegial fashion.

Professionalism

• Must demonstrate honesty, integrity, dependability, and responsibility.
  
• Must demonstrate sensitivity and understanding of issues related to gender, race and disability.

System Based Learning

• Must demonstrate effective utilization of outside resources to better patient care.
  
• Understand and assist in development of clinical pathways, algorithms for system improvement.

Educational Attitudes

• Must demonstrate knowledge acquired from independent learning/reading.
  
• Demonstrate commitment to scholarship.

Other

• Must not have current drug dependency problem.
  
• Must participate equitably in call schedule.
  
• Must have stamina to maintain health under stress.

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