Adult Inpatient Psychiatry

This rotation gives you experience providing individualized treatment for a diverse patient population as part of a multidisciplinary team.

You will diagnose and treat acutely and chronically ill psychiatric patients, participating in all phases of inpatient care on your unit, including:

clinical assessment
medical record keeping
psychotherapy
pharmacotherapy
family intervention and group meetings
discharge planning

You will provide accurate differential diagnoses for major psychiatric disorders typically seen in these settings and take a lead role in educating patients and their families about the nature of the illness, treatment goals and their role in the therapeutic process.

Extensive teaching services and research are integrated into the rotation. Throughout, your work will focus on maximizing contributions from across the disciplines.

When necessary, you will manage patients’ agitation and medical emergencies, assess safety issues—including risk of suicide and homicide—and order diagnostic studies and consultation services.

Faculty will directly observe and supervise your interactions with patients, and you will learn by observing experienced faculty members with patients. You will participate in inpatient group therapies (such as community meetings), teach students on your treatment team and lead unit meetings. Working with students, residents and health care professionals from other specialties on your care team helps you develop interdisciplinary communication skills.

Year Taken

PGY-1 and PGY-2
Some residents complete this rotation during the PGY-4 year

Length of Rotation

nine to 12 months
For residents who join the Program at the PGY-2 level or who plan to enter child/adolescent psychiatry fellowships, this rotation lasts nine months

Caseload

Patients’ stays average approximately 10 days. You will be directly responsible for a maximum of six patients you will follow for the duration of their admission. You may also supervise medical students and manage the medical care of other patients on the service.

You will have opportunities to participate in the legal system regarding involuntary admission and treatment over objection.