Psychiatry Residency
Program Director: Meghan McCarthy, D.O.
Telephone: (814) 868-2476
Email: mmccarthy@maerie.org
Mission
The mission of the Millcreek Community Hospital Psychiatry Residency Program is to provide Residents with a comprehensive structured cognitive and procedural clinical education in both inpatient and outpatient settings that will enable them to become competent, proficient, and professional osteopathic psychiatrists.
Program Overview
Millcreek community Hospital is the largest psychiatric inpatient facility in Northwestern Pennsylvania (and only D.O. Hospital). Residents are exposed to all facets of Psychiatry that allow the Residents to be well rounded in the field. The program also is active in the multiple supportive services of mental health such as Crisis and Case Management.
The rotation schedule represents a multifaceted approach which thoroughly accommodates the requirements for Residency as put forth by the American Board of Psychiatrists and Neurologists (ABPN). Residents enjoy the opportunity to gain proficiency of practice in a variety of clinical settings, including working in the public, private and rural sector. Also, the entire patient spectrum is represented in terms of working with children/adolescents, adults and the elderly.
Rotation Requirements: (each rotation is 4 weeks long)
Intern Year:
2 rotations – Neurology
1 rotation – Internal Medicine
2 rotations – Geriatric Internal Medicine
2 rotations – VA (Internal Medicine, E/R)
1 rotation – House Officer/Substance Abuse and Detox
5 rotations – Inpatient Psychiatry (Child and Adolescent, Adult, Geriatric)
Second Year:
3 rotations – child and Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatient Unit and Child and Adolescent Consultation-Liaison
4 rotations – Adult Psychiatry Inpatient Unit and Adult Consultation – Liaison
3 rotations – E/R Psychiatry
3 Rotations – Geriatric Psychiatry Inpatient Unit and Geriatric Consultation – Liaison
Third Year:
13 rotations – Outpatient (Ambulatory) Psychiatry for half day
13 rotations – Psychotherapy Cases one half day per week
4 rotations – Forensic Psychiatry for half day
4 rotations – Dual-Diagnosis Psychiatry/Residential Psychiatry for half day
5 rotations – Community Elective in community-based program of choice
Fourth Year:
13 rotations – Outpatient (Ambulatory) Psychiatry for half day
13 rotations – Psychotherapy Cases one half day per week
4 rotations – Partial Hospitalization Psychiatry (adult and adolescent) for half day
4 rotations – Mentoring Interns for half day
5 rotations – Electives
Residency Evaluations are completed via an online form after each rotation block with the resident present and co-signed by the attending, the resident and the residency director. The resident and the program director will meet every quarter to complete an overall evaluation.
Educational Program
Residents attend weekly didactics, in which topics related to the studies of psychiatry, neurology and general medicine are discussed and presented. Residents also attend a monthly journal club, in which recent articles and landmark studies are reviewed and analyzed.
We have a weekly board review program in which we review PRITE questions to help residents prepare for the written boards. We also do yearly verbal Mock Boards (Clinical Skills Validation) to prepare for the oral boards.
Weekly psychotherapy supervision is hosted by experienced clinicians, where the structure and nuances of various modalities of therapy are discussed. Residents are assigned an attending supervisor to provide individual education, as well as insightful reflection upon patient cases.
Resident Salaries
- PGY-1 $50,365.76
- PGY-2 $51,437.38
- PGY-3 $52,508.99
- PGY-4 $53,580.60
Resident Responsibilities
1. Logs
Each Resident is expected to keep a monthly log consisting of the patients they see at each of their identified sites, a list of reading material they have covered, and a list of didactic sessions, conferences, meetings, and supervision sessions they have each attended. These logs are submitted to the program director and to the Department of Medical Education monthly.
2. Evaluations
Residents obtain evaluations based on the core-competencies of Residency training from each of their supervisors every two months and are to be submitted as they are obtained throughout the academic year to the medical education department. The program director will review the evaluations with the Residents quarterly. In addition, the Residency Director will fill out an evaluation quarterly for each Resident. Residents are given evaluations with the evaluator (one on one interaction) and are encouraged to have discussions regarding their progress in the Residency.
3. Residents are expected to complete a project each year of the residency, consisting of research, quality improvement, or case studies.
4. The call schedule is formulated by the Chief Resident and reflects a fair approach to call distribution which allows for less time on call as each Resident progresses through the program. The Resident on-call has around the clock access to an attending psychiatrist functioning as a back-up for discussion of complicated cases or special circumstances.
5. Residents must participate in the annual in-service examination (PRITE) that simulates Part II of the ABPN Board Certification Examination.
Affiliated Institutions
Millcreek Community Hospital, in conjunction with the LECOM Institute for Behavioral Health, the Achievement Center of LECOM Health, Stairways Behavioral Health, Barber National Institute, and Safe Harbor, as well as many other agencies in Erie County, participates in the education of Psychiatry Residents by offering specialty rotations to enhance the scope, volume, and variety of cases for both core and elective rotations.
General
- Provide an educational program that offers a thorough understanding of the development, assessment, treatment, and prevention of psychopathology as it appears from infancy through adulthood.
- Provide an introduction to this knowledge base in psychiatry.
- Psychiatry for medical students and general psychiatry residents.
- Provide an interdisciplinary setting for the training of Psychiatrists to take a leadership role in working with other mental health professionals in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders in patients and understand the role of an effective consultant.
- Integrate findings in developmental neurobiology and neuroscience to develop an understanding of fundamental processes that may be involved in the etiology and treatment of psychiatric disturbances and developmental disorders.
- Provide treatment to patients and families on a non-discriminatory basis, always considering the welfare and perspective of the patient, family, community and utilizing evidence based approaches to clinical problem solving.
Educational
- Skill in diagnostic interviewing, formulation, treatment planning, and implementation of psychotherapeutic and pharmacological management.
- Familiarity with the theories of development pertaining to patients of all social and cultural backgrounds.
- Skill in consultation with primary care, non-psychiatrist mental health providers, schools, community agencies, and other programs serving patients.
- Skill in administration and teaching
- Knowledge of the principles of research to encourage a scientific approach to clinical problems and skill in critical reading of the literature as it pertains to psychiatry and psychology
- Familiarity with the function and organizations of health, education and welfare institutions to promote normal development.
- Understanding of legal and ethical issues in the practice of Psychiatry.
Psychiatry Inpatient Unit
Patient Care
- Interviewing skills/data gathering skills
- Recognize/manage psychiatric emergencies
- Preparation for treatment and disposition
Clinical Knowledge
- Differential diagnosis
- Pharmacological interventions in acute care setting
- Non-pharmacologic interventions in acute care setting
- Interaction between psychiatric diagnosis and psychosocial problems
Interpersonal Skills and Communication
- Effective relationships with multidisciplinary staff
- Therapeutic relationships with patients/families
- Succinct and thorough oral presentations
- Written reports and documentation
Professionalism and Ethical Behavior
- Demonstrates professional appearance/respectfulness/courtesy
- Punctuality/arranges coverage appropriately
- Maintains equilibrium under stress
Practice-Based Learning
- Self-evaluation/knows limits of own knowledge
- Incorporates new info into practice/seeks out supervision and guidance
- Independently motivated/uses available resources
Systems-Based Practice
- Effective with outside agencies/aware of resources and obstacles
- Advocates for patient/family
- Understands role of inpatient hospitalization in continuum of care
Consultation Liaison Service
Patient Care
- Perform psychiatric interviews on medically ill
- Recognize/manage psychiatric emergencies in medically ill
Clinical Knowledge
- Differential diagnosis and treatment planning for medically ill
- Pharmacologic/Non-pharmacologic interventions for medically ill
- Recognize the interaction between medical and psychiatric and psychological problems
Interpersonal Skills and Communication
- Effective relationships with patients and families
- Effective relationships with primary care team
- Succinct and thorough oral presentations
- Written reports and documentation
Professional and Ethical Behavior
- Demonstrate professional appearance/respectfulness/courtesy
- Punctuality/arranges coverage appropriately
- Maintains equilibrium under stress
Practice-Based Learning
- Self-evaluation/knows limits of won knowledge
- Incorporates new info into practice/seeks out supervision and guidance
- Independently motivated/uses available resources
Systems-Based Practice
- Understands role of psychiatry consultant
- Effective use of resources for Patient Care
On-Call
Patient Care
- Provide focused emergency assessments of patient and families in crisis
- Ensure patient safety
- Identify at-risk situations
Clinical Knowledge
- Awareness of types of emergency situations in patients and families
- Ability to diffuse and manage a crisis situation
- Understanding of statues regarding custody and guardianship as it relates to emergency assessment, emergency petition, and voluntary/involuntary admissions process
Interpersonal Skills and Communication
- Rapid establishment of therapeutic relationship in an emergency care setting
- Succinct written reports
- Cooperation with referral sources and disposition resources
- Clear communication with staff
Professionalism and Ethical Behavior
- Maintain professional appearance and demeanor
- Demonstrate respect, compassion, integrity, and honesty
- Respond punctually to requests for consultation
- Recognize limits of own knowledge/skills
- Arrange coverage as needed
Practice-Based Learning
- Seek out supervision
- Re-evaluate performance based on feedback
Systems-Based Practice
- Learn about the resources available for patients in need of acute psychiatric intervention
- Understand the public mental health care system and obstacles to accessing care
- Learn about the relationship between pediatric care providers and specialty services in an emergency care setting
- Learn to identify the need for adjunct services
First and Second Year Resident Inpatient Services
Patient Care
- Interviewing/data gathering
- Engagement in treatment/effective relationships with patients and families
Clinical Knowledge
- Diagnosis and formulation
- Treatment implementation and sequencing
- Pharmacological and psychotherapy interventions
- Balancing family/patient needs
- Management of transference/counter-transference
Interpersonal Skills and Communication
- Succinct and thorough oral and written presentation
- Manages relationship with supervisor
Professionalism and Ethical Behavior
- Maintains equilibrium under stress
- Availability to patients/families
- Arranges coverage appropriately
Practice-Based Learning
- Self-evaluation/seeks out supervision
- Utilizes/incorporates new information
Systems-Based Practice
- Effective use of resources for Patient Care
- Aware of complex system of care
Third and Fourth Year Clinical Rotations (Continuity of Patient Care)
Patient Care
- Conduct comprehensive interviews and data gathering
- Recognizes and manages psychiatric emergencies
- Provides pharmacological and psycho educational interventions in integrated manner
Clinical Knowledge
- Diagnosis/formulation/treatment planning
- Recognizes relationship between diagnosis and impairment
- Recognizes role of various interventions including individual, family, CBT, and parent management training
- Aware of pertinent literature
Interpersonal Skills and Communication
- Effective relationships with patient and families
- Succinct and thorough oral presentations and written reports
- Effective relationships with referral sources
Professionalism and Ethical Behavior
- Demonstrate professional appearance/respectfulness/courtesy
- Punctuality/arranges coverage appropriately
- Maintains equilibrium under stress
Practice-Based Learning
- Self-evaluation/recognizes own limits
- Incorporates new info into practice/seeks out supervision and guidance
- Independently motivated/uses available resources
Systems-Based Practice
- Aware of complex system of care
- Effective use of resources for Patient Care
- Advocates for patient and family
Community Psychiatry Program
Patient Care
- Perform comprehensive interviewing skills and data gathering
- Recognition/management of psychiatric emergencies
- Provides pharmacologic management and psycho education to patients and families
Clinical Knowledge
- Understands role of child psychiatrist in community setting
- Diagnosis/formulation/treatment planning
Interpersonal Skills and Communication
- Effective relationships with non-M.D. clinicians
- Team participation/oral presentations
- Written reports/routine documentation
Professionalism and Ethical Behavior
- Demonstrates professional appearance/courtesy/respectfulness
- Maintains equilibrium under stress
- Punctuality/arranges coverage appropriately
Practice-Based Learning
- Self-evaluation/recognizes limits of own knowledge
- Incorporates new information into practice/seeks out supervision
- Independently motivated/uses available resources
Systems-Based Practice
- Recognition of obstacles to care in community care setting/understands system of care
- Aware of COMAR and other regulatory bodies in community mental health
- Effective use of resources for patients/families
Partial Hospitalization Psychiatry Program
Patient Care
- Perform comprehensive interviewing skills and data gathering
- Recognition/management of psychiatric emergencies
- Provides pharmacologic management and psycho education to patients and families
Clinical Knowledge
- Recognize the interplay between psychiatric and learning problems
- Understands role of psychiatric consultant in school setting and limits of school-based services
- Diagnosis/formulation/treatment planning
Interpersonal Skills and Communication
- Effective relationships with clinicians
- Team participation/oral presentations
- Written reports
Professionalism and Ethical Behavior
- Demonstrates professional appearance/courtesy/respectfulness
- Maintains equilibrium under stress
- Punctuality/arranges coverage appropriately
Practice-Based Learning
- Self-evaluation/recognizes limits of own knowledge
- Incorporates new information into practice/seeks out supervision and guidance
- Independently motivated/uses available resources
Systems-Based Practice
- Identifies obstacles to accessing care
- Aware of COMAR and other regulatory bodies regarding services
- Recognizes obstacles to care
Forensics
Patient Care
- Provide comprehensive clinical assessments patient and family before the court
- Manage relationships with patients and families in court setting
Clinical Knowledge
- Understand the difference between a clinical evaluation and a forensic evaluation
- Understand the different types of forensic evaluations and reports
- Understand the legal statutes as they relate to patients and families
Interpersonal Skills and Communication
- Ability to write reports that convey the appropriate information for judges
- Maintain relationships with court offices
Professionalism and Ethical Behavior
- Demonstrate respect, compassion, integrity, and honesty
- Maintain equilibrium under stress
- Complete paperwork in a timely manner
- Prioritizes appropriately
Practice-Based Learning
- Self-evaluation/seeks out supervision
- Incorporates new information into practice
- Demonstrates initiative
Systems-Based Practice
- Work effectively in coordination with outside agencies
- Understand the interrelationships between the multiple social agencies and the court system as it affects patients and families
Selection of residents and fellows shall not be based on age, disability, sexual orientation, status as a parent, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual harassment, race, color, sex, reprisal/retaliation, or veteran status, which would not directly impede the training process or any other characteristic protected by law.