Northeast Campus

Respiratory/Critical Care

Altru Hospital

IMED 9316

Faculty Director: Wayne R. Breitwieser, M.D.

Participating Faculty:  Seema Khosla, M.D.
                                      Mahesh Mudireddy, M.D.
Offered: All periods
Positions: 1 student per period

Objectives of the Elective:

  1. The student will be able to demonstrate expertise in evaluation, treatment and management of patients with respiratory disease of all varieties especially asthma and COPD.
  2. The student will be able to demonstrate expertise in a physical exam of the chest.
  3. The student will be able to interpret chest x-rays and pulmonary function studies.
  4. The student will be able to utilize the different equipment used in respiratory therapy and pulmonary function lab as well as a sleep lab and to state indications for their use.
  5. The student will be able to use the various ventilators at this hospital.
  6. The student will be able to state the indications for fiberoptic bronchoscopy as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the procedure.
  7. The student will be able to state the indication for thoracentesis, pleural biopsy, chest tube insertion, Swan- Ganz catheter insertion, arterial boundary line insertion, percutaneous needle biopsy of the lung, and to be able to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these different procedures.

Instructional Activities:

  1. Rotate through PFT Lab and RT Department.
  2. Participation in hospital rounds - critical care patients, routine patients, and consultation patients.
  3. Reading from standard textbooks will be expected.
  4. A mini test will be given periodically through the rotation mainly as a teaching aid and a focus for discussion.

Standards of Performance (Outcomes) Indicating Attainment of Objectives:

  1. Consultation and other patient work-ups will be supervised and evaluated.
  2. The patient should be able to interpret uncomplicated chest x-rays and PFTs. The preceptor will critique and evaluate student's interpretation.
  3. Time spent in Respiratory Therapy will be evaluated by the preceptor.
  4. Evaluation of procedures in the Critical Care Unit will be evaluated by the preceptor.
  5. Student's understanding of arterial blood gas and acid base balance will be evaluated.

Criteria for Grading:

A final written evaluation report will be sent to the assistant dean for the northeast campus.