The Maternal and Child Health Center, also known as Women's Hospital. The longitudinal care of entire families marks the most defining, enriching, and challenging characteristic of the field of family practice. During the first month, the interns are introduced to the practice where they will develop a patient base that will grow throughout the residency. The family practice centers function like private offices with the amenities that such environments afford. Each intern is assisted by faculty team leaders, upper-level residents, nurses, medical assistants and clerical staff who recognize the simultaneous priorities of quality resident teaching and patient care delivery.
Interns see three to four patients each afternoon in their first year.
The group scheduling of interns enriches the social and educational nature of the first-year clinical practice. Faculty preceptors provide important teaching on issues directly related to the intern's patients. Behavioral scientists work closely with the interns to assess family systems issues and provide teaching in areas related to mental health. Each family practice center campus may contain additional personnel such as pharmacists, social workers, and a wide variety of specialists and subspecialists in surgical, medical, and mental health fields. Ultimately, the first-year clinical practice provides a full experience in which interns work in a group practice setting and develop the realization of being an integral part of a vibrant and supportive teaching environment.