 |  | | PL-1s can expect to develop both the clinical and technical skills needed to diagnose and treat illnesses and disease in infants, children and adolescents. | | | |
Pediatric Level-1 Academic Year
The goals for first-year residents include building a basic understanding of child development and pediatric disease as well as gaining a broad base of experience in both inpatient and outpatient pediatrics. PL-1s can expect to develop both the clinical and technical skills needed to diagnose and treat illnesses and disease in infants, children and adolescents.
Orientation (1 week)
PL-1's undergo a paid, 1-week orientation during which they participate in the Pediatric Advanced Life Support Training Program (PALS) as well as Neonatal Advanced Life Support Training Program (NALS). You will also become familiar with the inner-workings of the program and the hospital and participate in various class bonding activities.
Inpatient (16-20 weeks)
First-year residents spend approximately 4-5 months on inpatient pediatric services and will care for six to 10 patients daily. He or she has the primary responsibility for the day-to-day care of the patients, as well as for coordination of subspecialty and consultative services. PL-1's are also vital in the education of 3rd year medical students from Drexel University. Patient progress is discussed daily at work rounds led by the senior resident. Attending teaching rounds are held three times weekly.
Night Float (6-8 weeks)
Each PL-1 spends 6 to 8 weeks per year (2 weeks at a time) on the night float team in place of “traditional” q4 call schedule. During inpatient rotations, the PL-1 is supervised by second or third-year residents who are available in-house at night. Fellows and attendings are also available 24 hours a day. The night float intern arrives at 6:30pm for signout and leaves at 8:30am the next morning from Sunday night through Thursday night. Weekends are free while on night float...and so are meals!
NICU (4-8 weeks)
The PL-1's experience takes place at the Hahnemann University Hospital NICU, an off-site, Level 3, 22-bed nursery staffed by St. Christopher's faculty. This is the only setting in which “traditional” night call is experienced. Call frequency is every fourth night and residents must leave by 1 p.m. post call. Residents will attend all high risk deliveries. This is an excellent rotation for adding new patients to your continuity clinic patient panel.
Newborn Nursery (4-8 weeks)
PL-1's on this rotation will attend all deliveries and learn how to manage and screen "healthy" neonates. This is another great place to pick up new patients for your continuity clinic patient panel. Residents on this rotation will periodically cover jeopardy and weekend call for their inpatient colleagues.
ICU (0-4 weeks + 2 weeks night float)
Half of the PL-1 class will spend a 4 week block in the Intensive Care and Special Care Units learning to care for children with acute and chronic illnesses, concentrating on those children who are technology dependent. In addition, all PL-1's will spend 2 weeks providing night coverage as the ICU night float intern. Most of the PL-1's patients will be from the Special Care (step down) Unit, however as your comfort level with critically ill children increases you will pick up sicker patients. To maximize the educational value of the ICU night float experience, the night float residents are responsible for presenting all ICU patients during work rounds.
Emergency Medicine (4-8 weeks)
During this rotation the PL-1 will learn how to diagnose and manage acutely ill patients. The emphasis this year is to learn rather than to "push charts". As such the PL-1 is encouraged to perform as many procedures as possible and to see patients at their own pace. PL-1 residents do 10 hour shifts, usually 8am-6pm or 4pm-2am. Weekend shifts are 12 hrs long.
General Pediatrics Clinic (4 weeks)
Beyond the weekly experience in continuity clinic, PL-1s rotate for four weeks in general outpatient pediatrics at St. Christopher's or St. Chris Care-Center City, receiving comprehensive exposure to primary care pediatrics. The resident sees a number of scheduled illness visits and is available by telephone to provide faculty supervised advice and consultation to parents for the ambulatory practice during daytime office hours. This is another excellent place to add new patients to your continuity clinic patient panel.
Continuity Clinic (1/2 day weekly)
Each PL-1 participates in his or her own continuity clinic, an ongoing responsibility throughout the three-year training program. In this role, the resident serves as the primary physician for a group of pediatric patients, with supervision and consultation by attending faculty. Continuity clinic is held on the same afternoon every week with the same attending physicians. The goal of the PL-1 is the see at least 4 patients during each session and to prepare at least 2 twenty-five minute pre-clinic talks for the year.
Advocacy (2 weeks)
The Community Pediatrics and Child Advocacy rotation consists of a two-week block during your PL-1 year where residents will visit several non-medical settings to gain appreciation for how these organizations contribute to the well-being of children and families. Residents engage in community outreach and will appreciate the external (social, economic, political, environmental, cultural and spiritual) determinants of children's health. During this rotation, residents also will identify an unmet need that could materialize into a mandatory longitudinal advocacy project. Most importantly, residents will gain the skills to become more competent advocates for children and will conceptualize how to partner with community-based organizations to help every child reach his or her potential. The curriculum also includes:
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10 noon lectures/year in advocacy,
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advocacy grand rounds,
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legislative advocacy , and
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Residents on this rotation will periodically cover jeopardy and weekend call for their inpatient colleagues.
General Surgery (2 weeks)
Here the PL-1 is introduced to pediatric surgical issues by attending surgical rounds and conferences, outpatient surgical clinic, and surgical procedures. This rotation also serves as an introduction to our surgical colleagues. Residents on this rotation will periodically cover jeopardy and weekend call for their inpatient colleagues.
Subspecialty Experience (1 week)
All PL-1's will spend time with various specialty groups gaining brief exposure to these fields but more importantly becoming acquainted with their subspecialty colleagues. Interns will also spend time with the phlebotomy and respiratory therapy teams.
PL-1 retreat (2 days)
The PL-1 year also includes a two-day off site retreat . The purpose of the retreat is to promote mutual support and a spirit of cooperation, and to encourage reflection on the goals and methods of the training program. It is also the only time of the year (besides orientation) where every member of the PL-1 class is off duty, which allows for some excellent bonding time.
Vacation
(3 weeks + 1 week scheduled break between 1st and 2nd year)
All vacation time is paid and is provided in 1 week blocks, although you may request a 2 week block. The 1 week break is nice because all of your classmates have the same time off; some residents have used this time to take vacations together!
Click Next to read about the Second Year Program (PL-2)
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