The University of Vermont Department of Emergency Medicine’s Section of Emergency Ultrasound, established in 2012, promotes excellence in bedside sonography for diagnosis and procedures. Initially focused on faculty and regional physician education, the program advanced regional standards of care by integrating POCUS with the EMR and PACS. It has since expanded to include a 4th-year medical student elective, a 4-year POCUS curriculum at the Larner College of Medicine, a TEE program, research initiatives, and an active POCUS interest group. In collaboration with the UVM Sim Lab, the program offers diverse CME opportunities, including EGLS, weekly image reviews, and hands-on workshops. Faculty actively contribute to regional, national, and international POCUS development, including program support and quality assurance in resource-limited settings.

For the Emergency Medicine physician, poisoning is a common chief complaint for patients encountered in the ED. The UVM EM residency therefore features a longitudinal toxicology curriculum that teaches residents the basics of caring for critically ill poisoned patients. Common overdoses, their recognition, and their management will be discussed in a variety of didactic formats, ranging from case discussions to simulation. Our “Pick your Poison” series allows residents to teach their colleagues about a drug, chemical, poison, or venom of their choice.

Residents who have additional interest in medical toxicology may take advantage of our close collaboration with the Northern New England Poison Center (NNEPC), located in Portland, ME. The NNEPC fields calls from both laypersons and medical professionals from Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Residents will assist physicians who seek guidance in caring for require help taking care of critically ill poisoned patients under supervision from our medical toxicologists. This elective is accompanied by structured didactics that allow for in-depth understanding of the toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of select poisons, as well as their treatment.

Medical Toxicology Clinical Elective

Medical students at LCOM can now take advantage of advanced training in medical toxicology. Death from poisoning due to medication, drugs, envenomation, and chemical exposure is the leading cause of death among young adults. More Americans die from poisonings than car accidents each year. Thus, additional training in medical toxicology will serve future physicians for the remainder of their professional career, regardless of specialty.

The medical toxicology elective is located off-site in beautiful Portland, ME. There, medical students will work alongside CSPIs and medical toxicologists of the Northern New England Poison Center (NNEPC). Medical students will assist in giving advice to both laypersons calling the poison center and physicians at hospitals across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont who require additional guidance in taking care of their critically ill poisoned patients. 

The 2-week course features an intensive curriculum that will teach the fundamentals of the toxicological physical exam, common poisonings and antidotes, and caring for patients in whom the poison cannot be identified. 

Welcome to the Critical Care Medicine section of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Our mission is to train residents to deliver exceptional care for critically ill ED patients, as initial management significantly influences long-term outcomes. In rural settings, emergency physicians must be prepared to stabilize and manage the most severe cases.

Our dedicated faculty, including specialists in Emergency Medicine, Pulmonary, and Surgical Critical Care, are eager to teach you during your ICU rotations and high-acuity ED shifts. Through hands-on training, didactics, and procedural experience, you will graduate ready to manage critically ill patients with confidence.

For those interested in critical care, we offer additional training, research opportunities, and advanced skills, such as Resuscitative Transesophageal Echocardiography Certification and telehealth consultations with community hospitals. We will ensure you are well-prepared if you choose to pursue a critical care fellowship.

Innovative Care Delivery

The Critical Care Transition (CCT) is a novel pilot project led by two of the Emergency Medicine/Critical Care Faculty, Dr. Katelin Morrissette and Dr. Skyler Lentz. This is an expanded version of the ED-ICU model which includes inpatient emergency consults and Tele-health support for regional network hospitals. Residents can rotate with this service to gain exposure to critically ill patients and experience in new clinical settings with didactic focus in quality improvement methods. This pilot project has been made possible by the culture of improvement, innovation, and high quality care in the University of Vermont Medical Center Emergency Department.