Program Aims and Objectives

Program Aims

• To provide exceptional training for Family Medicine Residents through development of skills that enable them to provide evidence-based, compassionate, linguistically appropriate patient care with dedication to our patients and communities.
• To prepare residents to become health advocates and community leaders.
• To develop competent physicians capable to provide comprehensive care to patients with a broad spectrum of medical conditions as well as support preventative health efforts.
• To promote optimal utilization of resources and cost-conscious strategies to diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions in patients in both the ambulatory and inpatient setting.
• To support the role of a primary care physician functioning as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
• To advocate for the application of evidence-based medicine while caring for patients in the clinic, hospital, nursing home and home settings.

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the program, all residents will be able to:

       Patient Care

• Gather essential and accurate patient information
• Perform an appropriate, accurate and focused physical exam
• Demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors
• Counsel and educate patients and families
• Work within a multidisciplinary team
• Independently develop and carry out patient management plans
• Provide preventative health services and provide anticipatory guidance
• Develop an appropriate differential diagnosis
• Perform procedures appropriate to the field of family medicine

       Medical Knowledge

• Know, apply and teach basic and clinical science
• Investigate and review current literature to acquire knowledge and solve clinical inquiries

       Practice-based learning and improvement

• Apply, design and use statistical methods to appraise medical studies
• Facilitate the learning of others
• Use information technology for lifelong learning
• Analyze practice experience and improve it systematically
• Obtain and utilize information about individual patients and local populations

       Systems-Based Practice

• Be aware of how practice and delivery systems differ (costs, resources, access, etc.)
• Practice cost-effective care and resource allocation
• Advocate for quality and help patients manage the health care system

       Professionalism

• Demonstrate respect, compassion, dignity and integrity
• Demonstrate sensitivity to cultural, age, gender, sexual orientation and disability issues
• Demonstrate commitment to ethically sound practice
• Demonstrate responsiveness and accountability to society, individual patients and the profession of medicine.

       Interpersonal and Communication Skills

• Effectively listen, elicit and provide information
• Communicate to develop and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients
• Work well with others as a member or leader of a health team
• Utilize communication to create health-promoting partnerships with patients and their families of various cultures and ethnic backgrounds