Internal Medicine
Teaching Sites
The Department of Internal Medicine Categorical Internal Medicine Program (in conjunction with Medical Center Hospital of Odessa and Midland Memorial Hospital) provides each Resident the intellectual environment, formal instruction, peer interaction, as well as the broad clinical experience to acquire the skills, knowledge, and attitudes essential to excel in the practice of general internal medicine.
Medical Center Hospital
Medical Center Hospital located in Odessa, Texas is a 396 bed JCAHO accredited acute care facility. The campus has an active Emergency Room with 50,000+ patient visits per year. The Intensive Care and Coronary Care Units have state of the art monitoring equipment. All Radiological procedures can be performed including Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography. In addition this hospital is a leader in cardiovascular services with an active cardiac program routinely performing coronary angiography, coronary angioplasty, and cardiac bypass grafting. MCH also offers CareStar, the exclusive air ambulance service of the Permian Basin. Specialty areas within the hospital include the MCH Center for Heart Disease, MCH Diabetes Center, and the MCH Ann Roden Deaderick Cardiac and Pulmonary Center.
Midland Memorial Hospital
Midland Memorial Hospital is located in Midland, Texas is a 272 bed JCAHO accredited acute care facility. The campus also features the Allison Cancer Center, the MMH Heart Institute and the 49-bed Memorial Rehabilitation Hospital. The Emergency Room receives 35,000+ patients per year. The Intensive Care and Coronary Care Units have up to date equipment. All Radiological procedures can be performed including Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography. The MMH Heart Institute has a active cardiac program and routinely performs coronary angiography, coronary angioplasty, and cardiac bypass grafting. Additional services include the Dare to C.A.R.E. program, Diabetes Education,
Support services such as Dietary, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Wound Care, Ostomy Care, and Social Service are readily available at both hospitals.
Approximately sixty percent of the residents' time (combined inpatient and outpatient experiences) is spent at Medical Center Hospital and forty percent at Memorial Hospital and Medical Center. The distance between the hospitals is approximately twenty miles (20 - 30 minute drive). Physicians based at Medical Center Hospital, Midland Memorial Hospital, as well as full-time faculty supervise elective rotations in internal medicine subspecialties as well as non-medical specialties. Under special circumstances, with approval from the Program Director, elective rotations may be taken at other academic institutions.
VA Medical Center
The VA Medical Center is located in Big Spring, Texas is a 95 bed acute and extended care medical center serving Texas and New Mexico. The VAMC serves as a general medicine ambulatory site, primarily for the second year residents. The residents gain additional experience in Cardiology by performing treadmill stress testing. There is a full-time Hematologist/Oncologist who assists in reviewing peripheral blood smears and in performing bone marrow aspirations. Procedures are performed at this setting include bone marrow aspirations, thoracentesis and paracentesis. Residents also spend 1/2 day per week in the Ophthalmology Clinic. The Ophthalmology Clinic is supervised by the Texas TechOphthalmology Department from the Lubbock campus. Residents do not attend their continuity clinics while on this rotation. Residents are able to attend all mandatory conferences via HealthNet link. The VAMC provides residents with a valuable inpatient medical experience in a government run, managed care system.
Ambulatory Clinics:
- Odessa Clinic is one of the locations for faculty and resident continuity of care. It has 22 exam rooms, a procedure room, a bone densitometer, and a computerized colonoscopy training program. Space is available for teaching and computers are available for use by residents. Residents see their Odessa patients at this location.
- Midland Clinic is the second location for faculty and resident continuity of care. It has 8 exam rooms. Space is provided for resident teaching and computers are available for use by residents. Residents see their Midland patients at this location.
- Private practice clinics in Midland and Odessa are held in clinical faculty members' private offices. These faculty members provide one-on-one supervision of some second and third year residents. The residents see more patients with simple medical illnesses than they do in their continuity clinics. An additional purpose of these sites is to provide the resident with a better understanding of practice management and billing and coding.