Cost efficient assessment and management are stressed. Techniques for establishing rapport with patient to provide an ongoing relationship are frequently illustrated. Residents may adapt their ambulatory medicine experience according to their needs to gain experiences in adolescent medicine, allergy, radiology, ophthalmology clinic, otolaryngology clinic, orthopedics clinic, pediatrics clinic, geriatric evaluation, gynecology, heart station, HIV clinic, sigmoidoscopy lab, and dermatology clinic. These experiences are designed individually usually for one-half day each week with the duration dependent on the resident's need. This allows exposure to common nonmedical problems important to the internist.
Experience working with a nurse practitioner, dietician, or social worker is provided.
Residents are expected to attend core conferences during the rotation and special lectures oriented to ambulatory medicine. Primary care residents remain responsible for primary clinics and scheduled behavioral medicine rounds. Residents are assigned appropriate reading by attending physicians. Patient care teaching conferences are held at the end of clinic sessions to discuss interesting cases or problems seen that day. The ambulatory medicine attending staff evaluates residents on an ongoing basis.