General Pediatrics – Outpatient clinic

Location: Children's Hospital

Coordinator: Dr. Howard Fischer

Objectives:

  1. Develop the techniques to foster a relationship between the physician, the ambulatory patient and the patient's family.
  2. Elicit a complete medical history from a child and his parents, and conduct a physical examination including: a. Identification of normal and abnormal patterns of growth and development b. Identification and accurate recording of patient's problems c. Identification of a complete or incomplete immunization history and the ability to design a schedule for completion of immunizations
  3. Recognize the minimum preventative health care standards for infants, children and adolescents.
  4. Design a health maintenance program for a prematurely born infant, a normal newborn, a school age child and an adolescent.
  5. Design and discuss important anticipatory guidance and counseling topics unique to pediatrics.
  6. Develop skill for assessing common illness, recognize the critically ill child, recognize the indications for hospitalization of an ill child.
  7. Develop the ability to utilize & communicate with social agencies, practicing physicians, schools and community health care programs.

Methods:

  1. Daily primary encounter with new or returning patients under faculty supervision.
  2. Observation of interviewing skills and record-keeping.
  3. Weekly ambulatory care conferences and case presentations.
  4. Performance of various developmental tests under faculty supervision.
  5. Direct input from disciplines such as social service, nursing, and psychiatry-psychology.

Each transitional intern will have the opportunity to participate in general pediatric clinics under the supervision of members of the full-time faculty and the senior pediatric house-staff. They will be assigned cases and will be required to record detailed history and physical findings for the purpose of planning a full ambulatory work-up and will be responsible for assisting in completing the work-ups. Transitional interns will have the opportunity to critically evaluate their interviews with patients and will learn to integrate the services of medical, nursing, social work and other health professions in the plan for continuing care of children in an ambulatory situation.

Recommended Reading Material: to be assigned