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Shriners Burns Hospital
Residents may rotate through the Shriners Burns Hospital
in their first or second year elective time. The Shriners Burns Hospital
is an international referral center for burn injuries and a major center
of research on burn injuries in children and adolescents. It is located
across the street from Massachusetts General Hospital. A splendid new nine-story
hospital opened on the same site in December 1995. There are extensive opportunities
for child and adolescent psychiatric research: diagnostic, psychotherapeutic
and psychopharmacological. There are two inpatient units: a 12 bed acute
burn unit and an 18 bed plastic and reconstructive surgical unit. Approximately
7,000 children who have survived burns are followed at the hospital, seen
in the clinic and periodically readmitted. Many patients are under 5 and
all ages through 19 are represented. All patients have acute or postoperative
pain management problems.
Approximately 50% have PTSD symptoms, 20% ADHD, 20% conduct disorders, 25–35%
mood disorders, up to 60% phobic anxiety disorders and about 10% enuresis
at some time. The population includes normal children, but also those who
are accident-prone, neglected or abused children and children of parents
with PTSD, depression or alcoholism. Many children and families have survived
near-death experiences due to burns or have grieved the loss of a loved
one. Modalities include diagnostic assessment, preoperative preparation,
crisis intervention, short and long-term psychotherapy, group and family
therapy, hypnosis and pharmacotherapy. There are extensive opportunities
for child and adolescent psychiatric research. Average caseload consists
of two to six inpatients. The residents may perform two or three outpatient
consultations during a 10-week rotation. All residents have individual once-weekly
supervision, as well as conferences and seminars. Faculty consists of one
two-thirds time senior child and adolescent psychiatrist, one half-time
pediatrician, two full-time trauma surgeons, several part-time plastic and
reconstructive surgeons, one half-time psychologist, three full-time social
workers, one fifth-time senior research child and adolescent psychiatrist,
one half-time child psychiatry research fellow and other staff in associated
disciplines, such as anesthesiology, nursing, physical therapy and special
education. |
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