The First Year

During the first year, residents have 7 typical call months: 4 months on the general inpatient ward with q4 call, and 1 month each in the pediatric ICU (q4 call) and the Neonatal ICU (q5 call). There is 1 elective month during first year, during which residents also cross-cover in the PICU on a q4 schedule. Other rotations include general care nursery (two 2-week blocks), adolescent medicine (with Sundays in the GCN), development and behavior with 4 weekend shifts in the Stroger emergency department, radiology/surgery with jeopardy call, and advocacy (call free). Usually, residents have no more than 2 months in a row with q4 or q5 call. Residents have 1 half day of continuity clinic per week. They start the year with 3 appointment slots per clinic and end the year with 5 slots. All clinical rotations are under supervision of a PL II, PL III and/or Attending Physician. PL Is are certified in PALS and NRP before starting their rotations.

The Second Year

The second-year residents spend 2 months in the acute care outpatient clinic and 4 months in the emergency department (3 at Rush and 1 at Stroger). They also spend 1 month each in the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. The rest of the year they have 3 elective months and spend 1 month in a private pediatric office. Increasing supervisory responsibility is attained during this year.

The Third Year

The third year of pediatric training emphasizes supervision on inpatient units, responsibility for patients with the most complex problems, and interaction with consultants and other members of the healthcare team. During the third year, residents spend 2 months as senior on the general pediatric floor and 1 month each in the PICU and SCN, and they have two 2-week blocks of night float to cover the general ward overnight during the week (Mon-Fri). There are two months of a transport rotation where the senior resident and a nurse go by ambulance to a referral hospital to assess, stabilize, and transport patients back to Rush. This rotation provides a unique opportunity for residents to utilize the skills as a ‘first responder’ in community EDs and nurseries. The remainder of the year is spent on 3 months of elective rotations, 1 month of a self-designed medical selective, and 1 month of outpatient acute care clinic. In addition, senior residents are responsible for teaching first-year residents and medical students.