DSH - Patton: Psychiatry Clerkship

Selected Loma Linda University junior medical students are assigned to Department of State Hospitals (DSH) - Patton for a three week rotation, while selected junior medical students from the Western University for Health Sciences complete a four week rotation.   Additionally, Loma Linda University senior medical students may elect a two to six week clerkship.

Junior medical students are assigned to inpatient psychiatric units where they participate in the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric patients under the direct supervision of attending faculty.    Additionally, students are given a series of lectures on topics in general psychiatry, with emphasis on diagnostic and treatment issues, including psychopharmacology.   Senior students may elect to either gain further experience on an inpatient unit or may elect to be assigned to work a forensic consultation service.

• DSH - Patton has a current patient population in excess of twelve hundred (1200) individuals.   
  • Approximately 80% of the patients are male
  • 20% female.  
• All patients are adults and come from a variety of social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds.   
• Predominant diagnostic groups at DSH - Patton include:
  • schizophrenia
  • bipolar mood disorder
  • major depression
  • delusional disorder
  • substance dependence
  • dementia. 
  • Antisocial and borderline personality disorders also are common.   
• From a legal perspective, DSH - Patton’s patient population is largely comprised of three groups:
  • prisoners transferred from a Department of Correction's facility to Patton for stabilization of a psychiatric disorder(s)
  • inmates transferred from jail for evaluation and treatment of incompetence to stand tria
  • and, persons found guilty, but not guilty by reason of insanity.  
• Smaller patient groups at DSH - Patton include conservatees, mentally disordered offenders paroled to DSH - Patton, and sex offenders.   Prisons served by DSH - Patton include both female and male facilities.

For further information, please contact

Adonis Sfera, M.D., at (909) 672-1908, or via fax, at (909) 425-7520.