VCU Department of Pediatrics

Program requirements

Curriculum
Conferences
PGY-year summaries
Rotational highlights
Subspecialties
Documentation
Curriculum

The goal of the training program at VCUHS is to provide the resident with a comprehensive exposure to pediatrics. We believe that our curriculum provides the resident with broad knowledge in primary pediatric care while offering a unique exposure to a wide variety of subspecialty services. Our pediatric ED facilities provide state-of-the-art training in advanced management of the pediatric emergency patient. Throughout the residency, the residents are able to choose the type and amount of subspecialties they experience. Our division of general pediatrics faculty serves as mentors and educators for inpatient pediatrics, the outpatient continuity clinic and in various specialized clinics such as the obesity program.

Curriculum block chart: Pediatrics 2008-09

Block (4 weeks)	PGY-1	PGY-2	PGY-3
1	Inpatient Wards	Inpatient Wards	Inpatient Wards
2	Inpatient Wards	Inpatient Wards/Elective	Inpatient Wards/Elective
3	Inpatient Wards	Night Float	Night Float
4	Inpatient Wards	NICU	NICU
5	Night Float	PICU	PICU
6	Night Float	NBN	Ped ED
7	NICU	Ped ED	Outpatient Primary
8	NICU/Outpatient Surgery Subspecialties	Outpatient Primary	Outpatient Primary
9	NBN	Outpatient Hematology/ Oncology	Elective
10	Ped ED	Adolescent	Elective
11	Outpatient Primary	Behavior & Development	Elective
12	Evidence-based Medicine/Child Protection	Elective	Elective
13	Elective	Elective	Elective

Average call frequency

The Pediatric Residency Program at VCU fully agrees with the guidelines set forth by the ACGME for duty hours of resident physicians. In recognition of the need to have periods of time free from hospital obligations, each year of the program has at least one call free month and several additional weeks with limited call responsibilities. We believe that this schedule maximizes the opportunities for learning while simultaneously recognizing the lifestyle concerns inherent to a contemporary residency program.

Service	PGY-1		PGY-2		PGY-3
Service	Requirement	Call Frequency	Requirement	Call Frequency	Requirement	Call Frequency
Pediatric Wards	16 weeks (4 blocks)	2-3 calls per block	6 weeks	Q7 days	6 weeks	Q7 days
Newborn Nursery	4 weeks	N/A	4 weeks	N/A	N/A	N/A
NICU	6 weeks	Q4-5 Days	4 weeks	Q4-5 Days	4 weeks	Q4-5 Days
PICU	N/A	N/A	4 weeks	Q4 Days	4 weeks	Q4 Days
Pediatric Emergency Department	4 weeks	17 shifts (12 hrs./shift)	4 weeks	16 shifts (12 hrs./shift)	4 weeks	15 shifts (12 hrs./shift)
Subspecialty or Outpatient	10 weeks	Pull Call, NICU Cross-Cover	22 weeks	Pull Call, Phone Calls, PICU Cross-Cover (max 6 per month)	26 weeks	Pull Call, Phone Calls (max 6 per month)
Subspecialty or Outpatient (Call Free)	4 weeks	N/A	4 weeks	N/A	4 weeks	N/A
Night Float	8 weeks	7 p.m. – 9 a.m. shifts	4 weeks	7 p.m. – 9 a.m. shifts	4 weeks	7 p.m. – 9 a.m. shifts

As indicated above, each resident will be periodically assigned to Pull Call on specific days during outpatient or specialty rotations. The resident assigned to Pull Call must be available by beeper in the event a colleague becomes ill.

PGY-2 and PGY-3 residents are assigned periodically to after-hours phone triage (i.e. telephone calls) for the General Pediatric Outpatient Clinic. This call is taken from home.

Housestaff are given one call-free month each year.

Virginia Commonwealth University | VCU Health System | School of Medicine
Children's Pavilion, Room 1-031
1001 East Marshall Street
P.O. Box 980264
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0264
Phone: (804) 827-0534 | Fax: (804) 828-2435
Email: dbarrett2@mcvh-vcu.edu
Updated: 12/09/2008