Primary Care Residency Program
Rotation Schedule
Residents have required inpatient and outpatient rotations both at Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH) and Waterbury Hospital Health Center (WHHC) each year. The rotation schedule consists of thirteen four-week blocks. Each resident has four weeks of vacation each year scheduled as two two-week blocks. Attending rounds are held three times weekly during all inpatient rotations. There is a night float system at both Yale-New Haven Hospital and Waterbury Hospital. Electives are available in all medical subspecialties and for PGY 2 and PGY 3 residents, in International Health as well. The International Health Electives are described elsewhere. The ambulatory medicine rotations include general internal medicine and medical subspecialty experiences and an extensive seminar series as described in the Ambulatory Medicine section of our website.
First Post-M.D. Year (PGY-I)
During inpatient rotations, the PGY-I resident is considered to be the patient's primary physician. He or she develops a therapeutic plan, writes orders, and makes decisions about the patient's care. In these activities, there is careful supervision by a PGY-II or PGY-III resident and by the patient's private physician or team attending physician.
Categorical Interns
| Vacation | 1 block |
| Ambulatory | 2 blocks |
| Elective | 0.5 blocks |
| Academic Skills | 0.5 blocks |
| YNHH Wards | 2 blocks |
| YNHH CCU | 1 block |
| VA Geriatrics | 1 block |
| WHHC ICU | 1 block |
| WHHC Wards | 3 blocks |
| WHHC ED1 | 1 block |
Preliminary Interns
| Vacation | 1 block |
| Elective2 | 3 blocks |
| YNHH Wards | 3 blocks |
| YNHH ED | 1 block |
| WHHC ICU | 2 blocks |
| WHHC Wards | 3 blocks |
1 – Categorical interns also serve as the designated person to fill in on an inpatient service for a colleague in case of illness or family emergency.
2 – Eight weeks of the electives for preliminary interns can be taken at YNHH, WHHC, or in research. Preliminary interns will also serve as the designated person to fill in on an inpatient service for a colleague in case of illness or family emergency during four of the twelve weeks of elective. The elective assignment during this four-week period is at Waterbury Hospital on specified services (infectious diseases, nephrology, or rheumatology) where the attending physician is aware of this “backup” obligation.
Second and Third Post-M.D. (PGY-II and PGY III)
During inpatient rotations, the PGY-II and PGY III resident has both direct patient care and supervisory responsibilities for the interns and students on their team. The team attending physician provides supervision for patient care and team management issues.
Categorical PGY 2 Residents
| Vacation | 1 block |
| Selective1 | 1 block |
| Ambulatory | 3 blocks |
| YNHH Wards | 2 blocks |
| YNHH ED | 0.5 blocks |
| WHHC ICU | 1.5 blocks |
| WHHC Wards | 2 blocks |
| Elective2 | 2 blocks |
1 – Each PGY 2 resident will have two 2-week rotations where they will also serve as the designated person to fill in on an inpatient service for a colleague in case of illness or family emergency. Residents can develop a self-directed experience for one of these rotations such as working on a research project, or choose a selected clinical elective where the attending physician is aware of this “backup” responsibility. For the second 2-week rotation the resident will admit patients directly from the emergency department to the Hospitalist service will also serve as the designated person to fill in on an inpatient service for a colleague in case of illness or family emergency during this time period. A primary goal of this rotation is for the second year resident to have the opportunity to triage and evaluate 3-5 admissions daily gaining valuable experience in the assessment of acutely ill patients. Supervision is provided by the assigned Hospitalist attending. An additional important and valuable component of this experience is that residents will also have the opportunity to perform any indicated invasive procedures for these patients with the guidance of the attending physician or the interventional radiologist, including placing central venous catheters, performing lumbar punctures, arthrocentesis, thoracentesis and paracentesis.
Categorical PGY 3 Residents
| Vacation | 1 block |
| Admitting/Teaching Resident1 | 1 block |
| Ambulatory | 3 blocks |
| YNHH Wards | 1 block |
| YNHH ED | 0.5 block |
| WHHC ICU | 1.5 blocks |
| WHHC Wards | 1 block |
| WHHC Consults | 1 block |
| WHHC Night Float | 1 block |
| Elective2 | 2 blocks |
1 – The Admitting/Teaching Resident rotation is designed to provide senior residents with an opportunity to evaluate and triage patients being admitted to the teaching service at Waterbury Hospital during the morning when the ward teams are rounding so that work rounds are not interrupted and also to participate in morning report. Residents complete these duties at 11:00 Am each day and are then able to use the remainder of the day for self-directed learning, work on a research project, or participation in a clinical elective. It is during this rotation that senior residents also serve as the designated person to fill in on an inpatient service for a colleague in case of illness or family emergency.
2 – Electives can be taken at YNHH, WHHC, or in International Health.