Welcome to the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics rotation at the Center for Children with Special Needs at Tufts Medical Center! We are very pleased to have you with us.
The Center for Children with Special Needs prides itself on delivering interdisciplinary services that are child- and family-centered. The assessments that we conduct are comprehensive and evaluate the “whole child” with an appreciation of the child’s strengths and weaknesses and an understanding of the child’s role and functioning within his/her family, peer group, school and community. The CCSN offers clinical care and advocacy for children who have developmental, behavioral, and emotional issues that interfere with their growth, learning, and family or social functioning.
One in five children has a "special healthcare need", and behavior and development are relevant to ALL children. Despite this relevance, many pediatricians feel under-trained to identify and manage the developmental and behavioral challenges of their patients. YOU as the pediatrician and medical home provider will be among the most pivotal and continuous individuals responsible to the infant/child/adolescent and caregivers for following their developmental and behavioral needs; identifying special needs; shepherding families toward more specialized services; serving as an advocate for families; and other roles. Although developmental pediatricians can assist you in your primary role as the general pediatrician, the ball will still primarily be in your court to take the lead for the vast majority of your patients with special needs, and for all your patients in general.
Because your role as primary care provider is so singularly influential, the Pediatrics Residency Review Committee (RRC) requires a minimum of one month of DBP during pediatric residency training. Currently, at Tufts, this is accomplished by a 4 week rotation in your intern year. While Family Medicine Residency programs do not yet require a DBP rotation, Tufts Family Medicine recognized the need for DBP training in their own practices and arranged this rotation to fill that need. The focus of this rotation will be general developmental/behavior as well as children with special needs. The resources provided in this rotation can be used throughout your residency training as you manage the needs of children in your outpatient continuity clinic, subspecialty rotations, in the emergency department, and on inpatient services. The intended outcome is to leave you with the tools and strategies you will need to identify, manage and support your patients and their families with greater confidence.
This will be accomplished through participation in patient evaluations and discussion with clinicians about specific cases; Required readings, videos, and self-learning modules; quizzes, including a pre-test and post-test, field-trips to Early Intervention, a child care center, schools; and other written and/or creative assignments that allow you to demonstrate your understanding and thinking. There is time set aside for you during some weekdays and of course during your evenings and free weekends, to complete assigned work.
We welcome all feedback and suggestions from you. We realize that there is a great deal to accomplish over the month, but in the end we feel that your knowledge of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics will serve you well throughout your training and in whatever you choose to pursue for your career.
We hope you will learn a lot and enjoy your time here. The clinicians here are committed to educating residents so that you can provide the best care for children in the future.
A. PLI Core Rotation in Developmental Disabilities:
Your rotation will consist of many activities that are designed to provide you with a broad-based, well-rounded exposure to the subspecialty of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) and to explore normal child development. Most of your scheduled activities will take place in the 2nd floor of Tufts Medical Center. In addition to clinics and evaluations within the CCSN, there are several activities that take place outside of the Tufts Medical Center.
Weekly Schedule:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Friday
AM
0-6 year Clinic
1st week: Observation
2nd week: Patient Visit
3rd week: Parent Feedback Visit
4th week: Field Trip to TCC Day Care
Fellow’s Clinic
LEAP Clinic (School Age Clinic)
4th week: Brookline School District with Dr. von Hahn
PM
Observations and/or Field Trips, Self-Directed Learning (including report writing)
Noon-3:30 pm: Grand Rounds and Didactic lecture blocks
Observations & Field Trips, Self-Directed Learning (including report writing)
Advocacy Rotation
There are two components to a family practice resident’s experience in Developmental-Behavioral
Pediatrics (DBP):
1. PLI Core Rotation in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics
Experience collaborative patient evaluations with an interprofessional team:
During the PLI DBP rotation, through involvement in both direct and observational clinical settings, under the preceptorship of DBP Attendings, Fellows, and an interprofessional professional CCSN team:
1) Learn to review available information from parents, early intervention programs, schools, community agencies, and prior medical consultations to inform diagnosis and management
2) Understand key components of a comprehensive developmental-behavioral history
3) Observe and/or use standardized assessment tools as appropriate
4) Demonstrate effective, compassionate, and culturally sensitive communication with the patient and family
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Understand the primary care provider’s role in screening, diagnosing, managing, and/or referring children with ASD.
Developmental Delay. Understand the primary care provider’s role in screening, diagnosing, managing, and/or referring children with developmental delays
School Performance. Understand the primary care provider’s role in the promotion of school performance and the evaluation and management of school problems in children and adolescents.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Understand the primary care provider’s role in screening, diagnosing, managing, and/or referring children with ADHD and co-morbid disorders.
Developmental consequences of motor disorders, specifically Cerebral Palsy
Understand the role of specialists, referral processes, and case management across multiple disciplines to care for children with developmental diagnosis. This may include some of the following professionals:
1.Social Worker/Counseling
2. Speech Language therapy
3. Occupational and Physical therapy
4. Clinical Psychology and/or Neuropsychology
5. Educational intervention (preschool and school age)
6.Early intervention services
7.Developmental-Behavioral/Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician
8.Child Psychiatry
9. Pediatric Neurology
10.Autism Resource Consultant/Community Resource Specialist
2. Self-Learning Modules on the pediatric resident google drive to be covered during two didactic meetings during their two week DBP rotation
DBP Experience: Overview and Structure:
The two week rotation has several components: observations, evaluations, field trips and self-directed learning. The resident has the opportunity to observe a broad range of professionals- from DBP to speech pathology. The resident contributes to the data gathering on a patient as a member of the Learning Effectiveness Attention Program Clinic (LEAP). The DBP rotation includes Field Trips! The resident observes typically developing children in a large child care center and has the opportunity to observe delivery of therapy to infants and toddlers in an Early Intervention Class.
Schedule for the 2 week elective:
Week 1
7:30 am-12:30 pm Early Childhood Clinic
8 am-Noon Fellows Follow Up Clinic
7:30 am-Noon
1-4 pm
Independent Study
Noon-3:30 pm
LEAP Clinic
1-5 pm
Pediatric GR and resident didactic
Goals and Objectives for the Family Medicine Rotation in Developmental Disabilities
Developmental consequences of prematurity.
Recognize the role of specialists, referral processes, and case management across multiple disciplines to care for children with developmental disorders. This may include the following professionals:
1. Social Worker/Family Counseling 2. Early intervention services 3. Educational intervention (preschool and school age) 4. Clinical Psychology and/or Neuropsychology 5. Child psychiatry 6. Community Resource Specialist 7. Developmental-Behavioral/Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician 8. Occupational therapy 9. Physical therapy 10. Speech/language therapy 11. Physical medicine and rehabilitation