The third year Core Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Clerkship will provide the student with broad exposure to both the inpatient and ambulatory aspects of general pediatric care. There are four components to the clerkship: (1) orientation/preparatory portion, (2) ambulatory pediatrics (three weeks), (3) inpatient pediatrics (three weeks divided into days, nights, and newborn nursery),
A. Orientation/Preparatory
The clerkship will commence with three half-days of orientation material. We will begin by defining the expectations and reviewing important procedural components and resources that students will be expected to utilize throughout the rotation. Topics include prevention and well care visits, issues unique to the newborn and adolescent periods, fluids, electrolytes, and nutrition management. The first Tuesday morning will be spent in the Simulation Center, focusing on procedures and simulated patients.
B. Ambulatory pediatrics (3 weeks)
Placements are in the community or the WMed general pediatric clinics. Main tasks of the rotation are accomplished through observation of doctor-patient, doctor-family, and doctor-staff interactions, and direct patient care with a focus on patient and family interviewing and physical examination. Staffing of jointly attended encounters with medical students and attendings may occur at the time of patient care in the exam room, but students will have an opportunity to further discuss the case later in the day.
C. Inpatient pediatrics (3 weeks)
- One week of inpatient days (6a-6p)
- One week of inpatient nights (5:30p-6:30a)
- Three to five days of normal newborn nursery (7am-6:30pm) including one lactation day (8pm-4pm)
Goals of the inpatient component are as follows: (1) expose the learner to common conditions and how to recognize when inpatient care is required; (2) enhance development of differential diagnostic skills for common pediatric illnesses; (3) demonstrate history taking and physical examination skills (4) create a standard patient note; (5) facilitate working as part of a healthcare team; (6) provide knowledge of what is required for safe discharge from the inpatient setting; (7) instruct the learner on the transition from fetus to newborn and normal infant physiology.
Both the ambulatory and inpatient rotation utilize COMSEP's national pediatric third year curriculum. Content is supplemented by Aquifer cases and independent learning.
D. Synthesis and assessment
(1) Pediatric review sessions will occur the last Friday morning of the clinical portion o the rotation.
(2) Students will take the Pediatric OSCE on Friday morning of assessment week.
(3) Students will take the summative cognitive assessment, NBME Pediatric Clinical Sciences Subject Exam, on Friday afternoon of assessment week.
Throughout the clinical experience, students on the Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine clerkship will participate in student lectures on Friday mornings after grand rounds. Mid-rotation activities will include an interprofessional event focused on the topic of eating disorders.