Pediatric Acute Care

Course Description: The Fast Track pod in the Division of Emergency Medicine at Children's National Medical Center provides care for patients with minor acute illnesses and injuries. Patients assigned to Fast Track comprise more than half of the emergency department patient volume.

Students will have the opportunity to join a team of board-certified clinical associates/general pediatricians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, technicians, and support personnel to provide patient care. Students will have the opportunity to obtain a history, perform a focused physical examination and develop an evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic plan for patients under the guidance of an attending physician. Students will have the opportunity to perform minor procedures under the guidance of the attending physician.

Purpose and Rationale for the Course: The purpose of this course is to build on the foundational skills and knowledge gained during the pediatric clerkship as it applies to the acute care of a pediatric patient. This course will introduce students to the diagnosis, management and disposition of common pediatric illnesses and injuries presenting to the Fast Track pod of the emergency department. From patients requiring reassurance and/or supportive care to patients requiring escalation and/or transfer to higher levels of care, the diverse patient clinical encounters provide a unique learning experience that will prove useful to address acute concerns that may arise in various clinical settings.

Target Students: Students interested in building on the foundational skills and knowledge gained during their pediatric clerkship as it applies to acutely ill and injured children.

Course Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Perform a focused and accurate history and exam in acutely ill pediatric patients of varying ages and diagnoses.
2. Develop an evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic plan for pediatric patients presenting with a minor acute illness or injury.
3. Demonstrate cost-effective patient care and appropriate resource allocation.
4. Demonstrate care that is patient centered, culturally sensitive, ethical and compassionate.
5. Demonstrate effective communication skills with patients and/or families as well as other members of the ED interprofessional care team.
6. Use available resources (weekly scheduled conferences, professorial rounds, grand rounds, lectures etc.) to increase medical knowledge and improve patient care.
7. Recognize the important collaboration between ED and primary care providers when developing a disposition plan.
8. Describe the ESI/triage system and how patients are assigned to the Fast Track pod.