The Internal Medicine Residency curriculum at HCA Healthcare Riverside Community Hospital provides a comprehensive training experience designed to develop skilled and well-rounded internists. Our program integrates core competencies, focusing on progressive resident autonomy and building clinical confidence within a supportive, academic-community hospital setting. The curriculum utilizes a 4+1 scheduling model, effectively balancing immersive clinical rotations with dedicated time for ambulatory medicine and didactic learning. It also includes bedside ultrasound and simulation training.

Curriculum Structure by Year
Residents progress through a structured three-year curriculum, gaining exposure to the diverse facets of internal medicine:

PGY-1: Building Foundational Skills
The initial year focuses on establishing core clinical competencies in patient assessment, management of common conditions, and procedural skills. Typical rotations include:

• Inpatient General Medicine Wards
• An introduction to critical care through Rapid Response
• Medical and Cardiac Intensive Care Units (MICU/CCU)
• Night Float
• Introductory subspecialty rotations

PGY-2: Expanding Responsibility and Exploration
Second-year residents take on increased leadership roles, refine diagnostic capabilities, and explore subspecialty interests. The schedule includes:

• Supervising on Inpatient General Medicine Wards
• Advanced experience in MICU/CCU
• Subspecialty Consultations (e.g., Gastroenterology, Pulmonology, Cardiology)
• Supervising on Night Float rotations
• Emergency Medicine
• Increased subspeciality elective opportunities

PGY-3: Leadership, Refinement, and Career Preparation
The final year emphasizes clinical leadership, teaching skills, advanced patient management, and preparation for independent practice or fellowship training. Rotations typically involve:

• Hospital Medicine
• Advanced experience in MICU
• Further subspecialty consultations
• Substantial elective time tailored to career goals

The “4+1” Scheduling Model

• 4 Weeks: Concentrated clinical experience on inpatient rotations, consult services, or electives.
• +1 Week: A dedicated ambulatory week incorporating:
  • Continuity Clinic: Providing longitudinal care in a community-based clinic.
  • Didactic Learning: Protected time for lectures, case discussions, board review, and workshops.
  • Scholarly Activity: Time allocated for research and quality improvement projects.

Elective Opportunities
Significant elective time, especially during the PGY-2 and PGY-3 years, allows residents to customize their education based on individual career interests and goals. A wide array of subspecialty electives is available:

Specialized Tracks & Unique Curriculum Features

Residents can tailor their training through specialized tracks focusing on Hospital Medicine or Primary Care. Integrated into these curricula are training in Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS), Quality Improvement, Patient Safety, and Medical Education.

We also offer additional certifications to enhance your professional development. These certifications will soon be supported nationally by HCA Graduate Medical Education. These include:

• Advanced Medical Knowledge and Teaching in Medicine
• Health Care Professionalism and Physician Leadership
• Quality and patient Safety
• Point-of-Care Ultrasound
• Business of Medicine