Core & Elective Rotations

Residents complete their outpatient general pediatrics requirements in the Center for Pediatric Medicine (CPM) and the North Greenville Oupatient Center(NGOC). Conveniently located across the street from the main hospital campus, CPM represents the largest Medicaid clinic in the state and sees close to 50,000 visits a year. While all residents spend a portion of their outpatient time at CPM, some have the opportunity to have their primary clinic days at NGOC. This location is especially attractive to residents considering more rural medicine in their future careers.

In addition to general well child and acute care visits, residents at CPM also get to focus on specific panels of patients and services on clinic days with our nationally recognized Asthma Program, as well as Adolescent Clinic, Newborn Clinic, Behavioral Health Clinic, Psychiatric Care Clinic working directly with a local psychiatrist, and CPM’s Centering Pediatrics program-which is the first of its kind in the state.

All pediatric patients admitted for medical issues, all neurosurgical patients, as well as some other surgical subspecialty patients, are cared for by the pediatric resident wards teams. Residents gain familiarity with patients that would commonly be cared for by pediatric hospitalists including those with common pediatric problems, those with subspecialty issues, and those with significant medical complexity. Our residents help drive the care of the patients from start to finish – taking admission calls from primary pediatricians and ERs, speaking directly to consulting physicians, initiating the care plan, completing consults for surgical patients with medical concerns, performing procedures, and communicating with patients and families. Supervising residents are given progressive autonomy in patient care decisions and also guide the learning of junior residents and medical students.

During rotations in the Newborn Nursery, residents gain familiarity with term newborn care as well as proficiency in circumcision, promotion of breast feeding, and care of infants born with opioid-dependence. Prisma Health Upstate has gained national recognition for proactive treatment of opioid-dependent newborns through the Managing Abstinence in Newborns (MAiN) Program and residents become familiar with the presentation, management and prognosis of neonatal abstinence syndrome. We are also proud to be designated a Baby Friendly hospital by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Through training in this initiative and work with lactation consultants, residents gain comfort in promoting breastfeeding, and the value of skin-to-skin contact and rooming-in.

Residents rotate through the PICU beginning in their intern year. This early exposure is important both for those considering intensive care fellowship as well as the development of triage and immediate stabilization skills that are valuable in any care setting. Both medical and surgical patients are cared for in this unit and residents gain familiarity with their clinical management and procedures including placement of central lines, intubation, lumbar puncture, and even bedside neurosurgical procedures. The PICU also supports a pediatric transport team and accepts patients from the entire upstate of South Carolina and portions of neighboring states, resulting in a variety of acute and complex patient care exposures for residents on this rotation.

The dedicated and enthusiastic teaching from the NICU faculty has contributed this to be a favorite rotation among residents. Through recurring half day teaching sessions including skill labs and simulation, along with bedside teaching, delivery and resuscitation experience, procedural training, and even exposure to the new “Small Baby Unit” caring for infants under 1kg or <28 weeks gestation, residents are introduced to an often intimidating clinical area with a supportive curriculum designed for their success.

The Children’s Emergency Center (CEC) is staffed by pediatric emergency trained physicians, nurses, technicians and child life specialists. The CEC provides care for approximately 29,000 patients each year and is a designated Level II Pediatric trauma center. Here residents develop their comfort with rapid triage and assessment as well as procedural skills.

Residents spend most of their Adolescent Medicine rotation at the Prisma Health Adolescent Medicine office on Cleveland Street, but also will participate in the Adolescent Clinics at the Center for Pediatric Medicine and North Greenville Outpatient Center. At these sites, they are immersed in the care of adolescents and young adults, both from the specialty and primary care lens and address common adolescent concerns, like reproductive health, sexual health, eating disorder management and mental health. Additional clinical experiences include School-based health centers, Pediatric and Adolescent gynecology, the Juvenile Detention Center, the Eating Recovery Center of the Carolinas, Pediatric Pain Management, Primary care sports medicine, and Transition from pediatric to adult care.

The Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) rotation is strengthened by its association with the DBP Fellowship and takes place in the Donald A. Gardner Family Center for Developing Minds. This comprehensive, specialized program of our Children’s Hospital is one of the largest such programs in the country. Together with the faculty, fellows, and staff and numerous therapists of this program, residents participate in the evaluation and management of ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental delays, Intellectual Disabilities, Learning and school problems, sensory impairments, and cerebral palsy. They also have opportunities to work with specialists treating the developmental and behavioral challenges associated with medical conditions including Prematurity and intrauterine drug exposure, Genetic disorders (Down Syndrome, Fragile X), Spina Bifida, Neurologic disorders, and Chronic illnesses (HIV, sickle cell anemia).