Internal Medicine Curriculum & Academics

Internal Medicine Curriculum Design

Curriculum – Lower Bucks Hospital (LBH) boasts a distinguished heritage of postgraduate training in internal medicine. Our program is characterized by a commitment to delivering a comprehensive and rigorous training experience, coupled with individualized attention to each resident and their professional aspirations. With a capacity for eighteen residents or six residents per year across our three-year categorical program, we offer a scholarly and impactful approach to adult medical care, both inpatient and outpatient.

Central to the success of our internal medicine program are several key components: a diverse spectrum of clinical cases, a highly skilled and dedicated medical staff, and a structured progression in patient management responsibilities for our residents. The overarching aim of LBH’s internal medicine program is to furnish top-tier training that culminates in the attainment of certification as a general internist by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Moreover, for those inclined towards specialization, our program lays a solid foundation for further subspecialty training.

The structured three-year program includes both required and elective rotations, which ensure consistency of training. Each resident’s training time is allocated to meet the following ACGME  minimum requirements over the thirty-six-month program.

*Night Float– The Night Float patient care experience is designed to occur during non-traditional care hours through a dedicated rotation, providing residents with exposure to the full spectrum of hospital-based internal medicine. This rotation is structured to foster resident independence while also integrating hospitalist faculty into the learning process. Supervision will be provided by on-call faculty attending physicians or in-house preceptors, all of whom are Board Certified Internists or Internal Medicine Subspecialists. Clinical encounters will exclusively take place within the hospital or emergency room department to ensure continuity of care.

Residents will not be assigned to consecutive night rotations, enhancing their well-being and ensuring optimal performance. The Night Float team will be responsible for responding to all medical emergencies, actively participating in code events, and meticulously documenting their involvement. Teaching methods during the Night Float Rotation will include daily evening reports, night rounds, and real-time patient precepting, facilitating comprehensive learning opportunities for residents.

An example of expected schedule:

Daily schedule on floors as an IM resident in first year:

• 5:45 AM – 6:00 AM:       Detailed sign out starts
• 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM:      Resident rounds and finishing patient notes
• 8:15 AM – 9:00 AM:      Mandatory morning report with attending
• 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM:  Case management rounds to discuss disposition planning
• 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM:  Attending rounds and discussion
• 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM:     Mandatory noon conference
• 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM:       Finishing work and discharges
• 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM:       Sign out to late intern and senior resident
• 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM:       Late senior resident and late intern stays to handle patient care and later sign out to night float team.