Clinic/ER
As an Intern, we have three months of clinic a year. During these rotations, I see patients in general clinic, the subspecialty clinic, or the ER. We are also responsible for approximately seven, twelve-hour ER shifts a month where we work alongside a senior resident.
Here's a typical day in the clinic:
At 8 a.m. I show up for morning report except on Friday when we have a General Pediatrics lecture. Patients start coming in at 8:30 a.m., and I'll see 3 to 6 patients in a morning. I see well-child visits, newborn infant checks, or sick visits. After seeing a patient and devising a plan, I'll talk it over with one of our General Attendings. At noon, I'll go to noon conference and eat some lunch. Some days I'll attend a subspecialty clinic in the afternoon and work with any number of pediatric subspecialties: Pulmonary, Cardiology, Immunology, Development, and Neurology, to name a few. One afternoon a week, I'll have my continuity clinic. Other days I'll have a five-hour ER shift. There I'll individually see patients and present them to an attending, but it is always reassuring to know that a senior is nearby to answer questions, give advice, or offer a second opinion. Some days I go to the ER after afternoon clinic, but we are never required to attend clinic after an overnight shift. In the ER, I'll see 6 to 15 patients in a twelve-hour shift. There are some typical clinic "sick visits," but we also see very ill children and adolescents as well. I have at least four weekend days off per clinic month and tend to have fewer work hours than other call months.