My day as an internal medicine resident at Cook County Hospital

6:00 - 6:30 AM: Wake Up & Get Ready

• Quick breakfast or coffee before heading to the hospital.

• Skim through any unread messages or overnight updates from the team.

7:00 - 7:15 AM: Morning Sign-Out & Handoff

• The night team gives sign-out on overnight events, new admissions, and any acute changes in patient conditions.

• Senior residents and interns discuss critical patients.

7:15 - 8:30 AM: Chart Review and Pre-Rounds

• Arrive at the hospital and check the electronic medical records (EMR) for overnight updates on patients.

• Review vitals, labs, imaging, and consult notes for any new developments.

• Conduct quick bedside assessments of assigned patients.

8:30 - 10:00 AM: Rounds with the Attending

• Multidisciplinary rounds with the attending, interns, medical students, and sometimes pharmacists or case managers.

• Present cases, discuss diagnoses, management plans, and adjust treatment accordingly.

• Teaching moments occur throughout, as attendings push for clinical reasoning.

10:00 - 11:00 AM: Morning Report

• Interesting medical cases discussed with the firm chief

• Interactive sessions

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Work & Procedures

• Follow up on orders (labs, imaging, medications, consults).

• Perform procedures (central lines, paracentesis, thoracentesis, lumbar punctures).

• Discharge planning for stable patients, coordinating with social work.

12:00 - 1:00 PM: Noon Conference / Lunch

• Mandatory educational session (lectures, grand rounds, board review).

• Quick lunch, often while multitasking on patient tasks.

1:00 - 5:00 PM: Admissions & Follow-Ups

• New admissions from the ED or outside facilities.

• Workup new cases, write admission notes, and present to seniors/attendings.

• Follow up on test results, reevaluate patient conditions.

5:00 - 5:30 PM: Sign-Out & End of Shift

• Prepare handoff for the night team, discussing sick patients and pending tasks.

• Interns may leave earlier, while seniors finish remaining work.

5:00 PM – 7:00 AM: Night Call

• On-call shifts involve admitting new patients and handling emergencies.

• If post-call, residents leave by mid-morning the next day.