Residents having fun during mock 'mock code'

Boston Medical Center is a state-of-the-art facility and a Level 1 Trauma Center. The Pediatric Emergency Department (ED) provides 24 hour attending coverage by pediatric emergency-trained physicians, emergency medicine physicians, and 3rd year pediatric emergency medicine fellows. The BMC Pediatric ED treats approximately 30,000 patients a year, ranging in age from newborn to 21 years old. It receives more patients via EMS than any other pediatric facility in Boston. It has 12 fully-equipped rooms for non-acute care, an acute care/observation area with 4 beds, and a trauma/resuscitation suite.

Dr Fleisher, pediatrician-in-chief, (right) on one of his night shifts in the ED

Some of the resident responsibilities in both Emergency Department include:

• Evaluation, management and disposition of patients.
• Consultation and communication with other services and consultants.
• Discussion of cases with primary care and referring physicians.
• Performance of procedures (e.g., venipuncture, IV placement, arterial puncture, laceration repairs, incision and drainage of abscesses, removal of foreign bodies, splinting, endotracheal intubations, insertion of central vein lines, and chest tubes).

Residents rotate through both emergency departments during all three years of residency, gaining increasing competence, independence and responsibility as they progress.

Conferences occur at both Boston Medical Center and Children's Hospital Boston, including didactic lectures, mock codes, and hands-on practical workshops, such as the techniques for splinting and wound repair.