Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs: Radiology Residency Program
How do I apply to the radiology residency program at Olympia Fields Hospital?
Program receives all applications through ERAS.
What is the application deadline?
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis through November.
How many Letters of Recommendation do you require?
Three.
Are both USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 required to apply to this program?
For licensing, you need to complete an entire series of COMLEX -or- USMLE. So, you need to have 2 exams completed in one of those series to be considered for our program. However, you do not need to finish both series. You will then complete COMLEX Level 3 or USMLE Step 3 during residency. If osteopathic applicants take COMLEX Levels 1 and 2, we highly recommend sitting for USMLE Step 2 as well. While we still consider osteopathic applications without a USMLE Step 2 score, many other programs do not.
Board Examinations Pass Attempts – Does the program have guidelines on the number of attempts on Board Examinations?
With rare exception, passing board exams on the 1st attempt is required to be selected for review.
Do you require clinical experience prior to radiology residency?
No. We are a 5-year radiology program that includes the PGY-1 clinical year.
What are this year’s interview dates?
Interviews are scheduled during October, November, December and January. Specific dates will be determined in September.
Will you offer virtual interviews?
All interviews will be conducted via Zoom; however, there may be opportunities for on-site visits after the interview period ends.
How long is the interview day?
Four hours. Generally 8 am to 12 pm, or 1 pm to 5 pm.
How many applicants do you plan to interview?
40-60.
How many residents do you plan to accept this year?
Four.
How important are Gold and Silver Signals to this program as applications are reviewed? How about Geographic Preference?
We want our residents to be excited about the residency program and the region into which they match, so Signals and Geographic Preference are strongly considered. We receive an overwhelming number of applications each year, and these tools are valuable ways for you to indicate your genuine interest in our program and our region.
What type of program are you - Categorical or Advanced? What is the difference between the two?
We are a Categorical Program NOT an Advanced Program.
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“Categorical” positions offer full residency training required for board certification in that specialty. In this situation, trainees complete their intern year and residency at the same institution. Applicants only submit one application for these programs.
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“Advanced” positions offer only specialty residency training (PGY-2 and beyond). Applicants must separately apply for both intern years and advanced residencies simultaneously.
What is the difference between a Preliminary Year and a Transitional Year?
Prelim Years and Transitional Years are both standalone intern positions.
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“Preliminary” positions offer only one (up to two) year(s) of training generally prior to entry into advanced specialty programs. A Preliminary Year is in either Medicine or Surgery and is spent primarily with those services.
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“Transitional” positions can be thought of as samplings of many disciplines. Every TY program is different but generally trainees rotate through a variety of medical, surgical, and elective rotations. Transitional years are designed for specialties where a thorough understanding of basic pathophysiology and procedures is needed. Although not standalone, our PGY-1 year is structured like a Transitional Year.
How does ranking in ERAS work for all of these options?
Applicants first rank all Radiology residencies with which they’ve interviewed, in order of preference (including Categorical and Advanced programs). Then for every Advanced program they’ve ranked, they will create a unique supplemental ranking of any Prelims or TYs, with which they’ve interviewed.
Will you consider current PGY-1 residents or resident transfers from another specialty?
Because we are a categorical, 5-year program, we generally do not consider anyone for acceptance into our program who is in or has completed any portion of a funded GME program.
Does the program accept IMGs and if so, which type of Visa is accepted?
While IMGs are welcome to apply, we cannot support Visa sponsorship.
Does the program offer Early Specialization in Interventional Radiology (ESIR)?
Yes, we offer the ESIR pathway.
What research opportunities exist?
There is a research requirement for all residents. We are affiliated with the Radiology Partners Research Institute, which conducts ongoing collaborative research with academic institutions around the country. Additionally, we are members of the High Value Practice Academic Alliance (HVPAA). Still many residents choose to develop their own research ideas at the local level or in conjunction with their off-site rotations at Lurie Children’s Hospital.
Will the Olympia Fields Hospital Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program have a virtual meet and greet or open house to learn more about your program?
In recent years we have offered a casual Q&A session virtually with the residents; our 2024 session is available on our website for viewing. Another virtual Q&A will be taking place this year. Those invited to interview with our program will also be invited to participate in the session. It will then be uploaded to our website for public viewing.
What does the employment contract look like?
View a sample of the contract: click here.
For additional information regarding the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program at Olympia Fields Hospital, please contact our program coordinator, Kelly Patrick, at (708) 855-7011.
FAQs: Olympia Fields Hospital Radiology Department
My patient has kidney failure. Can they get a CT with contrast?
For patients without ESRD who have a GFR below 35, IV contrast is not recommended; however, if the clinical provider believes the benefits outweigh the risks, the study can be performed. In that case, it is recommended that the patient receive IV hydration prior to the study and usually after as well. Patients who are ESRD on regular dialysis may proceed with the study regardless of their GFR.
How do I order the contrast preparation for patients allergic to contrast requiring a CT?
Type in “Contrast” and select the order set “Rad IP Contrast Allergy Focused.” In most cases you will select the Prednisone/Diphenhydramine Contrast Premedication Panel which requires 13 hours premedication. There is also an option for a 4 hour emergency contrast prep.
How do I get a VQ scan after hours?
If after hours (weekends and after 4pm on weekdays), call the operator and ask to be connected to the on-call nuclear medicine technologist. If able to get IV contrast, CTA PE protocol is the preferred study.
How do I get an MRI after hours?
Please have the MRI safety form completed. Some people are not able to safely get an MRI, i.e. there are risks of severe injury to them, so make sure there are no contraindications prior to calling in the technologist. Then call the operator and ask to be connected to the MRI technologist on call. They will likely ask whether the form is completed and what the indication for the MRI is. There are few emergent reasons for an MRI, primarily, suspected cauda equina, cord compression, or epidural abscess.
Does my patient need to be NPO for a paracentesis?
No. This goes for thoracenteses and PICC lines as well, and any procedure in which sedation is not required. FYI, most solid organ biopsies and abscess drains require sedation.
How do I place an order for an IR procedure?
Under “orders”, enter: Interventional radiology case order. For provider, select: “IR Physician Resource SJ.” For procedure, select: “Miscellaneous IR request.” For procedure description, type the name of the procedure you are requesting. Then sign the order. This will allow the IR staff to see the order on their worklist. Additionally, if it is an emergent/urgent procedure, a call to the “Radiology Nurse” or IR attending will speed up the process as the worklist is not checked constantly due to staff being in and out of procedures.
When is “fill in the blank” procedure going to happen?
For most non-radiology residents, the IR service is elusive and mysterious. What do they do? Are the radiology residents also IR residents? Who are the IR nurses and how do I get a hold of them?
To start, IR procedures are generally done either in the cath lab (bone marrow biopsies, fistulagrams, abscessograms, chole tube placement/exchange, embolizations, vertebroplasty, etc.); fluoroscopy suite (lumbar punctures, hip aspirations); ultrasound/CT suite (solid organ/lymph node biopsies, abscess drains). Cath lab procedure schedule is available on EPIC similar to the MAIN OR schedule. Alternatively, you can vocera “Radiology Nurse” to talk to the IR nurses or call cath lab at 22740. Radiology residents may or may not be involved in the IR procedure in question and generally have little to no information about procedures taking place in the cath lab.
Can you do “fill in the blank procedure” tonight/this weekend?
Depends. Most procedures will be done during the week during the day unless there is an emergent reason for the procedure. There is only one resident on site during the evening and weekends, and their primary responsibility is to read stat exams, answer diagnostic questions, and communicate critical findings.
Is there a way to get a midline or PICC line after hours or on the weekend?
The vascular access team should be contacted first, both during the week and during off hours, i.e. after 4pm on weekdays and anytime on the weekend. Vascular access is sometimes unable or unavailable to place lines, in which case IR can be contacted, however, on the weekend, line placement is limited.
A patient came to the ED because their dialysis graft/fistula is not working. Can they get a declot?
Yes! If after hours and the patient does not need emergent dialysis, they can go home and schedule an outpatient fistulagram/declot assuming there is no other reason to admit them. Just put in an IR case order request. If they need emergent dialysis, a temporary central line will need to be placed which is usually done by general surgery for immediate dialysis. After dialysis, that day or the following day, a fistulogram/declot can be performed by IR.
GI Bleed. What is the best study?
If the patient is stable, get a CTA abdomen/pelvis.
MRI department hours:
Monday-Friday: 7am-8pm.
Saturday: 7am-
Sunday: Closed.
If emergent study needed outside of the above hours, fill out MRI safety form and call operator to get a hold of on call MRI tech.
Nuclear Medicine department hours:
Monday-Friday: 7am-4pm, On call 4pm-9pm.
Saturday/Sunday: On call 7am-9pm.
Interventional Radiology hours:
Monday-Friday: 8am-5pm.
Saturday & Sunday: On call. Call Radiology Resident on Vocera between 7am & 11pm. Otherwise, call hospital operator to connect you to the on call IR attending.
Radiology Resident Hours:
Sunday-Saturday: 7am-11pm.
How do I call you on Vocera?
“Radiology Resident”
“Radiology Tech”
“Ultrasound Tech”
“MRI tech”
“Nuclear Medicine tech”
“CT tech” or “CAT scan”
“Radiology Nurse” = for the IR nurses (current IR nurses also reachable on vocera by name: Ed Sidler).
Please direct questions regarding status/time of procedures, anticoagulation before/after, midlines, etc to Radiology Nurse.
Contact Us
Radiology Residency Program
For resident verification requests please contact
Carien Williams
Email: cwilliams23@primehealthcare.com
Phone: (708) 855-7011