Emergency Psychiatry Acting Internship
Title of Course: Emergency Psychiatry Acting Internship
Elective Year(s): Fourth Year Elective
Department: Neurosciences and Psychiatry
Type of Elective: Clinical
Course Site: The University of Toledo Medical Center
Course Number: PSCH 714
Blocks Available: Based on preceptor availability
Number of Students/Block: 1
Faculty: Victoria Kelly, M.D.
Elective Description/Requirements: The student participating in this clinical elective will be working primarily at UTMC as part of the Psychiatry Consult team for any day shifts, and with the Psychiatry residents & attending on call for any night shifts. The student will take the lead role in assessing adult and child patients in the Emergency Department and admissions to the psychiatric units for a variety of conditions, including suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, substance use, acute anxiety, mania, and psychosis. The student will develop their skills in performing focused psychiatric assessments as well as suicide and violence risk assessments. This will be done with supervision from the attending physicians for the psychiatry consult service and/or on-call. These physicians will supervise the student in all aspects of clinical management. In addition to learning about emergency psychiatric management, the student will gain an understanding of various systems of care and the necessity for cross-system collaboration. It is expected that the student will take responsibility for the individuals assigned to him/her, under the supervision and close collaboration with other members of the multi-disciplinary team will be expected. There may be opportunity for interventional experiences for psychiatric emergencies, including electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and ketamine administration. The student will also be expected to prepare a presentation based on a topic agreed upon with the attending by the end of the term. The student is expected to present their topic at departmental or organizational meetings (e.g. NAMI Greater Toledo, NWOPPA monthly meetings, psychiatry resident didactics, Internal Medicine noon lectures, Emergency Medicine didactics, grand rounds, etc.) As an acting intern, the student enrolled in this course will assist in the education of students completing their Psychiatry required clerkship experiences. This student will meet weekly with the attending physician for assessment and feedback.
Length of Course: 4 weeks
Educational Course Objectives and Links to EPOs:
- 1. Explain the neurobiological changes underlying delirium, agitation, alcohol and substance intoxication and withdrawal, secondary to medical conditions. (EPOs: MK-1, MK-4)
- Explain the neurobiological changes underlying mood disorder and suicidality secondary to medical conditions. (EPOs: MK-1, MK-4)
- Obtain a focused developmentally appropriate biomedical and psychosocial story of the patients’ illness in the acute care setting. (EPOs: MK-1, MK-4, MK-6, MK-7, PC-1, PC-2, PC-5)
- Discuss differential diagnoses, recommend appropriate laboratory / diagnostic testing. (EPOs: PC-7)
- Prioritize a differential diagnosis; recommend and describe the scientific basis for the diagnostic evaluation. (EPOs: PC-6)
- Recommend specific, evidence-based therapeutic interventions after discussing the indications, contraindications, potential adverse reactions, and likely outcomes of each. (EPOs: PB-1, PC-7)
- Discuss the impact of social determinants on the health of individuals encountered on the emergency department. (EPO: SBP-2)
- Identify community-based resources to incorporate into outpatient behavioral health care plan upon discharge, if possible. (EPOs: SBP-3)
- Communicate effectively with hospitalized individuals and all members of the interprofessional treatment team; participate effectively in the exchange of information with consulting teams. (EPOs: PC-4, PB-1, PC-9, IPC-1, IPC-2, SBP-5)
- Incorporate feedback from others into the assessment of knowledge and performance; set learning and self-improvement goals; and identify appropriate resources to address gaps in knowledge and skills. (EPOs: PB-1, PBL-1, PBL-2, PBL-3)
- Participate in evening or weekend clinical care to support continuity of patient care and demonstrate professionalism in varied clinical settings. (EPO: IPC-2)
- Conduct structured patient handoffs using an evidence‑based communication approach to ensure safe and accurate transfer of care. (EPO: SBP-1)
Professionalism: UT/COM students will meet or exceed the institutional standards for professionalism as stated in the current Educational Program Objectives and the current Educational Course Objectives for the Sponsoring Department.
Instructional Methods:
- Clinical case presentations/discussions
- Use/interpretation of various laboratory and diagnostic tests
- Independent studies
Assesment Methods:
- Clinical documentation review
- Acting Internship assessment
- Self-assessment
- Case write-ups
- Paper or presentation based on a topic agreed upon with the attending
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all third-year required clerkships.
Special Requirements:
- As part of the acting internship, students are required to participate in at least one evening or weekend clinical experience. This experience ensures exposure to the full spectrum of patient care responsibilities and supports readiness for residency-level schedules and work environment.
- Students are expected to participate in structured patient handoffs as part of their clinical responsibilities. This includes observing and contributing to the sign-out processes to ensure safe, effective transitions of care.
Clerkship Director: Emily Cooper, M.D.
Clerkship Coordinator: Micheal’e Hands
Phone Number: 419-383-5615
Email: micheale.hands@utoledo.edu
ECC Approved
March 2026