VCU Internal Medicine Training Program
Guidelines for Resident Work Rounds &
Team Attending Teaching Rounds

Purpose of Resident Work Rounds

• Allow Resident decision-making (formulate a plan of management) prior to Attending Physician arrival
• Foster Resident skills in leading an Internal Medicine Team. Allow daily work to begin earlier (orders, tests, consults, etc...)
• Encourage early patient discharge
• Allow for more efficient Attending Rounds (focus on new and complicated patients and teaching cases)
• Permit more comprehensive teaching by Attending Physicians
• Meet ACGME expectations for separating Work/Management Rounds and Teaching/Attending Rounds

Schedule of Work Rounds

Guidelines for Team Attending Teaching Rounds

• Team Attending Rounds is time for the Attending Physician to provide guidance and assistance with patient care and medical decision-making to the Resident and the Team.
• Attending physicians will be present for efficient walk rounds and bedside teaching from 9:15-11:50 each morning. The Resident and Attending Physician should discuss how to best utilize this time for both quality teaching and patient care. There is thus considerable flexibility in the use of this time, depending on the size and dynamics of the team.
• The Resident and Attending Physician will choose which new and/or complex patients need to be seen by the Team that day. All patients do not need to be seen by the entire team each day.
• Stable patients not seen and examined during Team Attending Rounds can be seen independently by the Attending Physician and later discussed with the Resident.
• Team Attending Rounds must end by 11:50am. The team must be finished by this time in order to attend noon conference and begin daily work.