(Answered by the Residents)
How does night float work?
Our program is one of a few large pediatric residency programs that offers night float for all three years of residency. Benefits of a night float system include minimizing the number of grueling 24-30 hr work shifts and having more weekends off. The night float system is also less confusing for patients and parents because they only have two residents: a daytime doctor and a nighttime doctor.
There are night float residents on all inpatient teams and in the ICU. From Sunday-Thursday night, 6:30pm-8:30am the PL-1 and a supervising PL-2 or PL-3 will handle admissions and all floor issues. As the night float resident, you will sign out at 6:30 am, present all new patients during work rounds, attend "chief rounds", and leave by 8:30am. Each year our residents have 6-8 weeks of night float (2 week intervals). In general, our residents enjoy the night float system and "can't imagine" working a q4 call schedule year round.
How does weekend call work?
On inpatient services our residents will work on Friday night AND Sunday morning, or work a 24-hour shift on Saturday. Periodically, residents on electives will take a weekend call, which allows the inpatient team residents to have “golden weekends” (no hospital responsibilities on Friday night, Saturday or Sunday).
How many "Golden weekends" do you have?
Our chief residents try to arrange schedules so that each resident will get 2 free weekends per month on average.
How much Q4 call do you have?
NICU is the only rotation where a q4 schedule is used. You will work 1-2 months of NICU as an intern and 2 months as a 2nd year resident.
How many months of floors do you work as an Intern?
Each Intern will spend 4-5 months on the inpatient services.
How are the teams organized?
For most of the year there are two teams, Purple and Yellow; during the busy winter months there is an additional team, Green. Each team consists of a supervising PL-3, four interns, two third year medical students, and one to two sub-interns; on occasion we will be joined by a visiting resident. Each intern will care for 4-10 patients; they are also responsible for teaching and providing feedback to third year medical students. Sub-interns are supervised by the PL-3. The PL-3 runs the team and makes patient care decisions in conjunction with the attending.
Inpatient subspecialty and general pediatrics patients are split up between the teams. Our residents are not directly responsible for the care of patients on the surgical service.
Is 24 residents per class too much, too little or just right?
Obviously we are going to say "just right". Having 24 residents per class is more than most programs, but not overwhelming; you'll get to know everyone relatively quickly. Some benefits of having a large class are more flexible scheduling and many friends to hang out on days off.
What is the ancillary staff like?
There is an IV team available 24 hrs on most days, and a phlebotomy team that performs two scheduled blood draws daily. Transport techs are available to take patients and laboratory specimens to and from various hospital locations. Our child-life specialists are hugely important in making the hospital experience more pleasant for our patients by providing them with preparation and distraction for painful procedures, company when they are homesick, and games and activities when they are bored.
Do you have computerized ordering, note-writing,or charting systems?
Once discharged, all patient files are scanned into the EPF (electronic patient file) system that allows for easy access to old records. While there are plans to implement a computerized ordering system within the next 1-2 years, there are no current plans for an electronic note-writing system.
How flexible is scheduling?
The chief residents are extremely conscientious about making the call schedules as accommodating as possible, with vacation requests as their first priority. On occasion, your schedule will not look as you had hoped; our large class size is helpful in this case since it is relatively easy to find another resident to switch with you.
How many electives are you allotted?
A total of 6-8 months, during the final two years of residency. During each of these final two years you are provided with 1 call free month that can be used to pursue international experiences or electives at other institutions.
How does the Jeopardy system work?
Everyday there are 1-2 residents per class on who are on 'back-up' call in case an emergency prevents one of your colleagues from being at work. While it is rare that the jeopardy residents are called in, the jeopardy resident should be available to work within 1-2 hrs notice.
How many ICU months does each resident have?
A total of two months of days plus up to six weeks of night float are spent in the ICU. During the first year all interns will do 2 weeks of night float in the ICU. In addition, half of the PL-1 class will do an entire month of days in the ICU. During your second year you will do an additional month of ICU along with 2 weeks of night float. Half of the PL-3 class will spend a month serving as the ICU supervising resident.
How many NICU months do you work?
3-4 months. During the first year your NICU experience takes place at the Hahnemann University Hospital, a Level 3 NICU with 22 beds and a busy Labor & Delivery service. During the second year you will spend 2 months in the NICU at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, a Level 3C NICU with 30 beds and ECMO capabilities, which serves as a regional referral center for critically ill neonates, especially those with surgical issues.
Can you start or expand a family during residency?
While pregnancy and starting a family during residency can be challenging, we will do whatever we can to accommodate your needs. In compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act, we provide up to 12 weeks of leave for this purpose. Expecting residents should speak with the chief residents and Drs. McGregor and Spector (our program directors) as early as possible to arrange schedule changes and leave time.
What is the transition from medical school to residency like?
The transition from medical student to intern will be difficult wherever you go. Your free time is limited, you may feel inadequate, and people will expect you to know things that you don't. We try to ease this transition by providing an environment in which it is safe to ask any and all questions. Everyone, including the residents, attendings, and even the nursing staff know to look out for the new interns and to be as helpful as possible.
Tell me about the faculty.
Our faculty are phenomenal. They are highly trained, approachable, effective teachers and excellent role models.
What types of research opportunities are available to residents?
While our Infectious Disease, Allergy, Neonatology, and Endocrinology departments have received the most notoriety for their work, there are a variety of topics actively being researched by all of our departments. Our residents have published articles in general and subspecialty journals as well as review journals such as Pediatrics in Review. Typically 6-8 residents per year present their works at various national conferences.
What do your residents do upon completion of residency?
Depending on the year, approximately one-half to two-thirds of our residents go into private practice while the rest go on to some of the most sought-after fellowship positions in the country.
Does St. Christopher's have any religious affiliation?
No, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is a non-sectarian institution. Dr. McGregor (our program director) likes to tell the story of how we received our name during interview day, so we will not spoil that for him. Suffice it to say that we have no religious affiliation.
How do you like living in Philadelphia?
A wide array of excellent restaurants, arts and theatre, exciting night-life, beautiful parks, and of course great sports teams (or at least their efforts are great) make Philadelphia a wonderful place to live and work. There are plenty of housing options both in the downtown area and in the surrounding suburbs, all of which are within minutes of the hospital. Even better, Philadelphia is perhaps the only large east coast city where you can live comfortably on a resident salary!
What is your patient population like?
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is located in North Philadelphia and serves an inner-city patient population. The majority of our patients are Latino and African-American. There is also a fairly large Muslim patient population. Because we serve as a referral center for the entire Delaware Valley and Northeast corridor of Pennsylvania and the surrounding suburbs we also see patients from other demographic groups. Patients seen at the Hahnemann University Hospital and at our downtown continuity clinic have a higher representation from West African nations and Eastern Asia.
Do the residents hang out together outside of work?
Yes...and often! We get together in both small and large groups for happy hours, birthday dinners, dancing, New Year's celebrations, etc. Our social committee is responsible for organizing large-scale events such as winter and spring dinner dances.
What is the cafeteria food like?
It depends on the day and the time! Lunch is usually the best meal: there are tons of options including salad bar, sandwich bar, grill, and a daily special. Breakfast is usually decent. Wednesday is the famous "croissant day" which makes hump-day just a little bit easier. We also have a coffee shop, Java Joe’s in the lobby that serves excellent coffee, muffins, soft-pretzels, and even water ice. From 10:15pm-2am the cafeteria re-opens for "shnack"....lots of fried foods (chicken fingers, fries, onion rings) and coffee. While these late night “shnacks” may cause you to gain some weight, you will never be hungry on night float!
What is the best part about St. Chris?
Everyone who is asked this question will respond with one of two answers: "The people" or "the friendly atmosphere." When we say "the people," we mean the residents, the faculty, and the hospital staff. There is a feeling around here that you have to experience for yourself to understand. People will smile at you for no reason! As one resident put it, “It's almost like being at ‘Cheers,’ where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came...cheesy, but true.” Many of our residents were once Drexel University medical school students who rotated here and decided to stay. Furthermore, much of our faculty trained at St. Christopher’s and returned to join the faculty after fellowship training at other institutions. This emphasizes the fact that the more time you spend here, the more you'll want to become a part of the St. Chris family.
We can’t wait to meet you!