Internship Clinical Rotations
YEAR-LONG TO 6-MONTH-LONG CLINICAL ROTATIONS
Each Intern will serve on all three clinical rotations during the training year, and will be on two rotations at any given time. The Interns’ primary rotation will be 12 months, and their secondary rotations will be 6 months, switching at mid-year. The clinical service rotations are as follows:
Consultation Liaison: This rotation involves providing comprehensive psychological care for patients on the acute inpatient and long-term care medical units. Under the guidance of a psychiatrist, interns learn the skills of chart reading, acute psychiatric assessment, and medical note writing, and have the opportunity to follow patients for the duration of their hospitalization. Interns often consult and collaborate with physicians, nurses, and social workers. Psychiatry rounds take place twice a week, with one additional 45-minute meeting dedicated to didactic training. Didactic topics range from medical issues such as dementia, delirium, cardiac, endocrine, or gastroenterology issues, to legal and ethical matters such as psychiatric holds and decision-making capacity.
Palliative Care: Providing consultation and supportive services for patients and families facing end-of-life issues. San Mateo Medical Center’s Palliative Care unit provides interdisciplinary, culturally sensitive care to our patients with life-limiting illnesses. Interns provide compassionate care and psychosocial support for our patients and their family members to alleviate pain, grief, and emotional discomfort. Treatment with patients and their family members ranges from a few visits to several months of therapy. The palliative care team meets weekly to discuss patient cases and to learn more about end-of-life issues.
Inpatient Psychiatric Services: The inpatient psychiatric unit at San Mateo Medical Center is a 34-bed locked facility providing care and stabilization for patients with acute psychiatric illnesses. Patient diagnoses include schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, psychosis, severe depression, and severe personality disorders. The group therapy rotation allows interns the opportunity to work closely with these patients, and also to interact with psychiatrists, nursing staff, and discharge planners. Groups are designed and co-facilitated by the psychology interns. Past groups include: mindfulness, coping strategies, psycho-education, cognitive behavioral techniques, and dialectical behavioral therapy. Interns are expected to design and run two or three groups per week. Interns also have the opportunity to see patients for individual supportive and/or solution-focused therapy.
Each Intern will serve on all three clinical rotations during the training year, and will be on two rotations at any given time. The Interns’ primary rotation will be 12 months, and their secondary rotations will be 6 months, switching at mid-year. The clinical service rotations are as follows:
Consultation Liaison: This rotation involves providing comprehensive psychological care for patients on the acute inpatient and long-term care medical units. Under the guidance of a psychiatrist, interns learn the skills of chart reading, acute psychiatric assessment, and medical note writing, and have the opportunity to follow patients for the duration of their hospitalization. Interns often consult and collaborate with physicians, nurses, and social workers. Psychiatry rounds take place twice a week, with one additional 45-minute meeting dedicated to didactic training. Didactic topics range from medical issues such as dementia, delirium, cardiac, endocrine, or gastroenterology issues, to legal and ethical matters such as psychiatric holds and decision-making capacity.
Palliative Care: Providing consultation and supportive services for patients and families facing end-of-life issues. San Mateo Medical Center’s Palliative Care unit provides interdisciplinary, culturally sensitive care to our patients with life-limiting illnesses. Interns provide compassionate care and psychosocial support for our patients and their family members to alleviate pain, grief, and emotional discomfort. Treatment with patients and their family members ranges from a few visits to several months of therapy. The palliative care team meets weekly to discuss patient cases and to learn more about end-of-life issues.
Inpatient Psychiatric Services: The inpatient psychiatric unit at San Mateo Medical Center is a 34-bed locked facility providing care and stabilization for patients with acute psychiatric illnesses. Patient diagnoses include schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, psychosis, severe depression, and severe personality disorders. The group therapy rotation allows interns the opportunity to work closely with these patients, and also to interact with psychiatrists, nursing staff, and discharge planners. Groups are designed and co-facilitated by the psychology interns. Past groups include: mindfulness, coping strategies, psycho-education, cognitive behavioral techniques, and dialectical behavioral therapy. Interns are expected to design and run two or three groups per week. Interns also have the opportunity to see patients for individual supportive and/or solution-focused therapy.