Residency Programs in Internal Medicine

Computers

Computer skills are now an essential tool for all physicians whether in practice, resident teaching, or research. Two faculty members who have completed a fellowship in informatics lead the Computer Curriculum Development Program for the residents. The Mount Sinai Hospital offers all internal medicine residents a wide array of computer resources. The Levy Library has an outstanding Media Resource Center that offers courses in the use of all the standard computer applications as well as advanced classes in data retrieval, computer interactive learning, and other topics. The Media Resource Center is open daily and is available for all the residents to use. In addition, each one of the resident offices on the various floors of the hospital is equipped with computers that allow the resident to access the Library's databases and online medical texts, full-text journals, and the Internet. All residents also have an e-mail address. The residents are encouraged to do literature searches on each of their admissions. An inpatient and outpatient evidence-based medicine curriculum provides relevant search strategies in a closely supervised setting. The Department of Medicine provides access for copying and distributing journal articles. A frequently updated Web-based syllabus highlighting important review articles and therapeutic advances is easily accessible for the entire house staff.

The Ambulatory Care Pavilion has implemented a computerized patient database and medical record. The hospital has all lab, x-ray, and pathology reports on computer. The new house staff conference room is a state-of-the-art facility that allows immediate patient data/radiology access. Each floor has its own computer and a computer order entry system has been introduced. Patient sign-outs are completed on computer on an Intranet system.