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Clinical Rotations
The Emergency Medicine program has access to some of the best EMS agencies and world-renowned clinical facilities in western Pennsylvania. The clinical and field experiences combine the academic rigor of the classroom with real-world, hands-on patient care opportunities. Students complete a minimum of 544 hours at EMS agencies and hospitals throughout the region.
Clinical experiences are concurrent with didactic and laboratory sessions, allowing for the immediate application of information obtained in the classroom and laboratory exercises. Students perform physical examinations and assess patient medical histories and formulate and carry out treatment plans and skills under the direct supervision of preceptors.
Students complete a minimum of 544 hours in over 70 clinical rotations over a two-semester, three-phase curriculum. Students average 24 hours per week of clinical and field exposure. The program culminates in a Summative Field Experience providing the students with an opportunity to serve as a Team Leader on an ambulance.
Preparing for it All
Through a series of terminal performance objectives, the student is required to complete specific patient contacts across the life span from newborn to geriatric patients, specific complaints and pathologies, as well as specific skills including airway management, IV insertion and medication administration. This intense and challenging program promotes a solid foundation for individuals pursuing the application of advanced life support care in a variety of prehospital and in-hospital health care systems.
By using a combination of more than 49 clinical and field sites in and surrounding Pittsburgh, the student has the opportunity for exposure to many facets of the health care continuum.
Clinical rotations may include:
- Anesthesia
- Burn
- Emergency Department
- Medical Command
- IV Team/Medical Procedures Unit
- Labor and Delivery
- Pediatric Emergency Department
- Psychiatric Emergency Department
- ECT Lab
- Respiratory Care
- Critical Care ICU
- Trauma
Local Preceptors and Partners
Precepted by the dedicated men and women of local EMS system, the Pitt EM students provide patient care on advanced life support ambulances. The primary Advanced Life Support (ALS) field sites in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties include:
- Ambulance and Chair Service
- Brownsville Ambulance, Cannonsburg EMS
- City of Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS
- Cranberry Township EMS
- Eastern Area Prehospital Services
- Lower Valley Ambulance Service
- McCandless/Franklin Park Ambulance Authority
- McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Squad
- Medical Rescue Team South Authority
- Monroeville Fire Company #1
- Monroeville Fire Company #4
- Munhall Area Prehospital Services
- Murrysville Medic One
- Mutual Aid Ambulance Service, Inc.
- North Huntington EMS/Rescue
- NorthWest EMS
- Penn Hills EMS
- Penn Township EMS
- Peters Township EMS
- Plum EMS, Robinson EMS
- Ross/West View EMSA
- Scott Township EMS
- Shaler Hampton EMS
- Southbridge EMS
- SouthEast Regional EMS
- Tri-Community South EMS
- Valley Ambulance Authority
- White Oak EMS
- Woodland Hills EMS
In addition to required rotations, students have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills through an elective rotation at the following sites:
- STAT MedEvac helicopter program
- Emergency Medicine Residency Prehospital Physician Response Unit
- emergency department shift with the program medical director
Participate in Research at SHRS
As part of a leading R-1 research university, SHRS offers Pitt undergraduate and graduate students a multitude of opportunities to engage in diverse research experiences across its departments and programs.
Participation in a research project complements a student’s classroom learning and allows them to develop mentoring relationships with faculty, gain critical skills, access resources to pursue their own research interests, clarify life goals and strengthen career aspirations.
All Pitt undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply to participate in ongoing research.
An application is submitted, the information will be reviewed by faculty members working in the specified area of interest. Students can expect to be contacted by someone from SHRS that will direct to the best possible faculty researcher to help the student meet their personal research goals.