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The aim of this paper is to show the educational objectives and the implementation modalities of the paediatric course of the University of Milan-Bicocca School of Medicine, based in Monza. The course takes place during the fifth and sixth year and involves university, hospital and local figures in the training of a non-specialist doctor, according to precise and consolidated pedagogical assumptions since the 80’s at the Paediatric Clinic of Monza. Essentially it is focused on problem-based learning (Problem Based Learning) and the use of Novak concept maps. The involvement of family paediatricians permits outpatient rotation during the professional training and allows an active contact with the paediatric clinical reality in its main aspects.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently rare in children and they seem to have a milder disease course and better prognosis than adults. However, SARS-Cov-2 pandemic has indirectly caused problems in pediatric medical assistance. In view of this we wanted to draw a picture of what happened during health emergency and analyze future prospects for restarting. Methods: We involved the Italian pediatric scientific societies institutionally collected in the Italian Federation of Associations and Scientific Societies of the Pediatric Area (FIARPED); We sent a questionnaire to all scientific societies about the pediatric care activity during the COVID-19 emergency and future perspectives for the phase of post-containment. Results: The analysis of the questionnaires showed significant decrease of:admission, outpatient visits and specialist consultancy activities during the COVID-19 emergency, primarily linked to the fear of infection. Instead it was increased the serious degree of diseases admitted. Most of scientific societies maintained the relationship with chronic patients through some form of telemedicine, reporting a strong positive opinion about this modality. Finally showed the need to give life a new approach for hospitalizations and outpatient visits through a greater use of telemedicine, educational programs on families and a more decisive role of family pediatricians. Conclusions: Our study highlighted many aspects that can be improved in pediatric care. We think that It will be necessary a new shared strategy to improve the management and continuity of care for pediatric patients, primarily developing a network of collaboration between families, family pediatrician and hospitals and by enhancing the use of new methods of telecommunications.