Students spend four weeks on an inpatient service in either internal medicine, pediatrics, or obstetrics and gynecology. Students are expected to interview patients and obtain vital information for patient care, interpret data and discuss the treatment plan with the patient and family, promote general health maintenance and disease prevention, and consult with specialty services to coordinate care. Students should be able to provide the differential diagnosis of a chief complaint and a treatment plan to investigate the cause. Students also are expected to apply current clinical knowledge to arrive at a unifying diagnosis with the health-care team. Students should be able to assimilate scientific evidence to improve patient care and be able to communicate effectively with the health-care team, patients and patients’ families.

ACLS includes didactic information about the management of cardiac arrest, including rhythm recognition, drugs and protocols. The course also has skills practice for airway management including intubation; management of bradycardia, tachycardias, ventricular fibrillation, asystole, pulseless electrical activity, and shock and heart failure; and use of defibrillators and automated external defibrillators. Students must master techniques for basic life support for health professionals, such as one- and two-rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation, infant CPR, child CPR, and management of obstructed airway for all ages, before practicing skills for advanced techniques. Examinations include a written examination and demonstration of proper technique for intubation and ability to serve as team captain for a cardiac-arrest scenario. The student must pass each section for certification.