Educational Goals and Objectives of Training Year NS-1
Residents in the Cedars-Sinai Neurological Surgery Residency Program are expected to reach goals and objectives in six areas. Those areas and the expectations to be achieved in each area for PGY-1 are:
Patient Care
The resident will develop the ability to:
- Take and document a comprehensive neurosurgery history and do a physical examination
- Understand when to order presurgical laboratory studies and imaging and what the results of such studies mean in the context of treatment
- Develop and implement appropriate care plans in consultation with the chief resident or attending surgeon
- Counsel patients on the risks, goals, limits and alternatives to both simple and more complex neurosurgical procedures supervised by the chief resident or attending surgeon
- Perform selected surgical procedures (e.g., ventriculostomies, VP shunt placement, simple craniotomies) under direct supervision of Chief resident or faculty
- Assist in major surgical procedures and perform, under supervision, portions of such procedures that are appropriate for his or her level of training
- Work with other health care professionals on the neurosurgery team and health care professionals from other disciplines who are involved in a patient's care
Medical Knowledge
The resident will develop the ability to:
- Perform above the 10th percentile on the ABNS primary examination
- Demonstrate a solid foundation of knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pharmacology related to inpatient neurosurgery patients
- Correctly interpret basic laboratory and radiological studies
- Demonstrate increasing familiarity with classic and current aspects of the neurosurgical literature
- Demonstrate a foundation for clinical neurosurgery problem-solving and decision-making
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
The resident will develop the ability to:
- Demonstrate an ongoing and improving ability to learn from errors
- Locate, appraise, and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related to common neurosurgical problems
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
The resident will develop the ability to:
- Provide compassionate care as determined by patients, families, colleagues and auxiliary health professionals in wards and outpatient settings
- Work effectively as a member of a health care team
- Communicate effectively with other health care professionals on consulting services
Professionalism
The resident will develop the ability to:
- Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to patients' culture, age, gender and disabilities
- Demonstrate integrity and a commitment to patients that supercedes self interest
- Participate meaningfully in ongoing professional development by submitting research for peer review to journals and national meetings
System-Based Practice
The resident will develop the ability to:
- Advocate for quality patient care and assist patients in dealing with system complexities
- Practice cost-effective health care and resource allocation by using evidence-based medical practice that does not compromise quality of care
