At UMH we have a closed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit with four wonderful rotating attendings.  A PICU team consists of the attending, a senior resident and an intern.  In addition to critically ill general pediatric patients, you will also participate in the care of post-op neurosurgery, general surgery, orthopaedics, and trauma patients. 

Children’s Hospital is the only Level I trauma center in central Missouri.  Currently, residents work 6 days a week during the day with a night float system.  On weekends you can leave when your work is complete; weekdays you stay until 5-6 pm.

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is located at Columbia Regional Hospital and was remodeled four years ago.  The NICU can provide care for up to 35 critically ill neonates.  A typical NICU team is comprised of one attending, one NICU fellow, one senior resident, three interns, and a fourth year medical student. 

The call schedule is Q4 overnight and the residents also attend term deliveries after hours.  The NICU is a great place to learn neonatal procedures, the latest in mechanical ventilation, and management of complex medical issues related to premature and ill infants.  Grand rounds and noon conferences are attended via teleconference in the NICU lounge.  As with all of our rotations, residents have one day off in seven.

Always a favorite of Med/Peds residents, the Medical Intensive Care Unit is a fast-paced, hands-on rotation.  The MICU team is made up of a critical care attending, a critical care fellow, and 4-5 residents, some of which are interns.  Call is Q4-5 overnight depending on the number of residents.  The nursing staff, our critical care fellows, and our MICU attendings are fantastic. 

The MU ward teams are made up of three hospitalists, six senior residents and six interns.  Each hospitalist has two independent teams made up of a senior and an intern.  The call is Q6 overnight with various short calls distributed throughout the week to protect the long call team.  Teams carry a maximum of 16 patients at a time.    

Peds Wards

Greatly loved by our current residents, the pediatric wards are where you learn the bread and butter of pediatric medicine.  The makeup of the ward team changes based on the time of year.  In the summertime, there is one attending, two day senior residents, and three day interns as well as a night float system consisting of one senior resident and an intern. 

As an intern you will take patients during the day Q4 and as a senior resident Q2.  During the winter months, there are two attendings, and residents are divided between the two teams.  During your peds ward month, you will do 8 nights of night float as a senior resident and 7 nights of night float  as an intern.  Checkout times are at 6:00 am and 5:00 pm.

Harry S. Truman VA Wards

The VA wards are a change of pace from MU wards; they offer a unique experience and are an integral part of our training.  There are three VA teams; each is made up of one attending, one senior resident, and two interns.  Day call is Q3; overnight call is Q6 for interns.  Day senior residents do one overnight call per block; otherwise, there is a night float from 7 PM to 7 AM.    

On call interns cap at 5 patients each and supervising seniors cap at 10.  Taking care of Missouri’s veterans is always rewarding; the VA is a wonderful place to learn day-to-day internal medicine as well as to gain confidence with routine procedures.  Residents attend morning conferences at the VA and attend noon conferences and grand rounds at the University.

Cardiology Inpatient

At UMHC, the cardiology service is very busy.  You will have the opportunity to take care of a diverse array of patients with a wide variety of cardiac problems including acute coronary syndromes, congestive heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmias.  Patients on the cardiology service include CICU admits in critical condition as well as floor patients admitted for rule out MI protocol. 

A cardiology team is made up of one attending, one cardiology fellow, four residents which may include interns, and a cardiology nurse practitioner.  There is a night float system in place from 7 PM to 7 AM and teams of two are on call Q2.  The two team members usually alternate taking the overnight admissions with admits during the day.

Well-baby nursery

The Well-Baby Nursery is located at Columbia Regional Hospital.  You will take care of anywhere from 5-25 newborns a day.  You work six days a week with Saturday off; on Sunday it is very possible to get out well before lunch.  During this rotation, you will attend all C-section deliveries as well as any vaginal deliveries in which there is concern for the health of the baby.

You will become proficient in basic newborn care, the newborn exam, anticipatory guidance for new parents, and circumcisions.  All noon lectures and grand rounds are attended via teleconference in the NICU.