St. Vincent Health Center
Program Director: John C. Reilly, M.D.
High Point Towers
2314 Sassafras Street, #200
Erie, PA 16502
Phone: (814) 452-5100
Email: Racsurg@aol.com
Number of Residents (per year): 2
Number of Faculty (ABCRS Certified): 3
Salary/Year: $46,170
Case mix/number of cases: The program faculty see about 8000 patient visits per year, including about 2000 new patients. They perform about 1000 colonoscopies, 3000 fibersigmoidoscopies, 200-225 abdominal colon cases, and 250 anorectal procedures. A widely diversified case mix is seen.
Strengths of program: The inpatient care is provided at 2 closely located teaching hospitals, each with its own well organized same-day surgery area. A cost effective decision making process for management of colon and anorectal problems is emphasized. Laparascopic surgical cases are performed. Office participation of 2 4-hr sessions per week provide the residents opportunity to see patients in followup and to manage medically and surgically many cases of inflammatory bowel disease as well as the broad range of anorectal problems typically seen in the office. Each hospital has a well organized Research Department and several research projects are in progress. A fully equipped Anorectal Physiology Unit is available and resident performance of procedures is usual. The libraries are well managed and ample time is provided for library utilization.
Clinic or office experience: Each resident participates in 2 4-hr afternoon sessions in the office each week. In the office new patients are seen and flexible sigmoidoscopy and minor anal surgery are performed.
Interaction with general surgery residents: There is no general surgery program in the community so the colorectal residents interact only with family practice residents and medical students, both of whom rotate periodically on the service.
Conferences: Each week a didactic conference is held given by both the residents and attending staff with an ongoing yearly review of all major topics in colon/rectal surgery. Monthly conferences include radiology and pathology review, morbidity and mortality and journal club.
Anorectal physiology availability: An active anorectal manometry lab is maintained at St. Vincent Health Center where defecography, pudental nerve terminal motor latency measurements, marker studies and anorectal manometry are performed on a regular basis. This lab is located in the gastrointestinal unit so that anorectal physiologic evaluations are readily available to the resident. In this same area, the intra rectal ultrasound is available and jointly used with the urology service.
Outside rotations: Outside rotations are on a discretionary basis.
Research year: None available.
Requirement for paper: During one of the rotations there is ample time for research and investigative opportunities. A paper is required.
Opportunity to attend meetings: One week is available for the resident to attend a meeting of his or her choice. Funds are available for this purpose.