Progression of Responsibility and the Senior Role

Residents' responsibilities progress over the course of the program. PGY-1s concentrate on the basics of caring for patients, and PGY-2s learn to care for the most critically-ill patients. PGY-3s add teaching to their roles, and PGY-4s learn the skills needed to manage a department through the Senior Role: At both training sites 4th year residents are responsible for running a zone of the ED during their clinical shifts. All other residents and PAs in that area present their patients to the senior, who oversees care of the patients and manages patient flow. The skills developed by seniors in this role will be crucial to them as attendings. After managing zones in the fast-paced EDs in which our residents train, our graduates are prepared to work in any setting.