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Department of Pediatrics All pediatric patients are under the care of the house staff and attending pediatric faculty. The residents on the inpatient services are under the direct supervision of a hospitalist who is a full time faculty member. The ward teams consist of two upper level pediatric residents, two interns, one to two fourth-year subinterns, and four to five third-year medical students. While most IVs and blood draws are performed by nursing and ancillary personnel, residents get first shot al all other procedures. The 20-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)has eight critical care beds and 1 step down beds. We are currently in the process of expanding and enlarging the NICU to accomodate the growing needs of the community. An average of 650 high risk premature infants are admitted each year. In addition, approximately 1,500 normal newborns per year. Four full time neonatology faculty supervise and teach residents in the care and management of premature and critically ill newborns. The NICU is staffed by a senior level pediatric resident, one to two interns, and a team of neonatal nurse practitioners who also supply the expertise for transport of sick neonates. Ambulatory Pediatric Training The Pediatric Continuity Clinic program offers the resident the opportunity to provide continuity of care on a personal basis. As an integral part of their education in General Pediatrics, residents throughout their training have a continuity clinic. Each resident spends one-half day every week following healthy and chronically ill children. Residents are identified as the primary care physician for their patients and participate in as much of their pediatric care as possible. By providing ongoing health care to many children, each resident can learn the rewards and responsibilities of pediatric practice. While continuity clinics usually take place in PAGP, there is the possibility of having continuity clinic at a rural site, a nearby private office, or at one of our satellite faculty clinics. Pediatric residents gain first-hand experience with pediatric emergencies through the Emergency Department. All West Virginia University Hospital residents spend a month in the Emergency Department. Consultative care for children seen in the Emergency Department occurs on a regular basis at the request of the ED staff. Patient care is reviewed by full time pediatric faculty. When follow-up care is indicated, the resident can arrange to see the patient in Pediatric Continuity Clinic, which results in the family establishing an ongoing relationship with the resident. The goal is to provide regular well child care for the patient whose previous medical care was only episodic. A second Emergency Department rotation offered to upper level pediatric residents is geared specifically toward maximizing the pediatric experience, including additional experience in splinting and suturing. |
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