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Pediatrics

Below in broad outline are the teaching objectives of the Department of Pediatrics. These objectives are to be applied specifically in the evaluation of each student.

Knowledge (See The Core Curriculum in Pediatrics)

  1. Fund of knowledge: The student has a sound knowledge of the basic sciences and pediatrics and is able to integrate basic knowledge into a clinical context.

  2. Reasoning Ability: The student knows how to solve clinical problems; he weighs the evidence, using his knowledge of physiology and pathophysiology to validate his findings and to account for discrepancies; he develops a logical differential diagnosis and/or a logical plan of investigation and treatment after analyzing the available information.

  3. Clinical Judgment: The student knows how to proceed as efficiently as possible towards establishing a diagnosis. In so doing, he determines priorities, avoids the unnecessary, the unlikely, and the redundant. His decisions are based on a knowledge of alternatives and of probabilities. He knows how to avoid unreasonable risks to himself and others.

Skills (See specific Skills Objectives)

  1. History Taking: The student gathers comprehensive information about patients; he investigates all possible sources for information (previous hospital and clinical record, social service data, private physicians, school records); he continues to review the data he collects initially.

  2. Physical Examination: The student performs a complete and accurate physical examination on infants and older children’ he learns the special techniques necessary to examine pediatric patients; specifically, he develops skill in performing ENT examinations, obtaining blood pressures, auscultating the heart land lungs, examining the abdomen, and doing neurological examinations.

  3. Recording of Data: The student records data accurately and without distortion; he writes appropriate progress notes. The student’s history physical examination, and progress notes should be an official part of the patient’s record.

  4. Technical Skills: When appropriate, the student participates in technical procedures and makes all efforts to develop the appropriate manual and laboratory skills. He takes appropriate precautions to protect himself and others from unreasonable risks.

  5. Oral presentation: The student presents patients in such a way that each listener is able to assess the patient being presented. Oral presentations are made (without notes except for a few numerical jottings) in a logical, coherent order, following the format of a written case report, and including all relevant positive and significant negative data.

Attitudes

  1. Interest and Industry: The student, in every patient for which he is responsible, consults the textbooks and the literature, asks questions, participates in discussions. He completes his work; attends all scheduled activities; is punctual; is available when on call. He does all this on his own initiative or with a minimum of prompting.

  2. Interpersonal Skills: The student interacts sensitivity with patients and sympathetically with parents. He exercises tact and ingenuity in dealing with patients and parents. He collaborates effectively with staff and peers.

  3. Professionalism: The student displays a high level of maturity in meeting his responsibilities to patients, his obligation to colleagues and staff, his commitment to his self development. He indicates by his demeanor, his stability, his dependability, his willingness to learn and accept criticism, and his active participation in the clinical process, that his choice of medicine as a profession is an appropriate choice for him, while appreciating the importance of protecting himself and others from unreasonable risks.

Skills Objectives

Listed below are the skills objectives for third year pediatrics:

  1. To be able to communicate effectively as demonstrated by skill in:
    1. interviewing parents
    2. obtaining a nutritional history
    3. imparting information to parents
    4. presenting patients on rounds
  2. To be able to perform a physical examination competently, including:
    1. a term newborn, including the assessment of gestational age
    2. an older child
    3. an adolescent, including the assessment of Tanner stage
  3. To be able to perform the following specific examinations:
    1. accurate measurement of height (length), weight, and head circumference
    2. interpretation of a child’s growth record
    3. development assessment
    4. blood pressure determination
    5. otoscopic examination, including pneumatic otoscopy
    6. an ophthalmologic examination
    7. neurological assessment of the term baby and the older child and adolescent
  4. To be able to record data accurately and appropriately in the chart
  5. To be able to perform the following technical procedures:
    1. venipuncture, for tests and infusions
    2. administration and interpretation of intradermal tests, (PPD)