They would complete their first year of basic studies at their state institution, come to the UW for their second year, and then have the option of spending much of their clinical third and fourth years in rural community settings. Montana and Idaho joined in 1972. Wyoming, the newest member, joined in 1996. Using desktop computers with specialized imaging software, physicians at the UW School of Medicine can serve as consultants for patients in remote rural sites without the necessity of travel. The linkage also provides a valuable consultation and teaching method for physicians in rural sites to interact with UW faculty members.
Internists comprise the largest medical specialty group in the United States.
Although there have been large increases in the numbers of general internists in recent years, rural counties still have only one-third as many internists as urban counties. Internal medicine training has also been concentrated in urban areas. A study performed in 1987 by the Federated Council for Internal Medicine estimated a shortage of nearly 5,000 general internists nationwide by the year 2000. Several important activities are included in the department's educational program to foster this. Another 20 residents choose to travel to distant sites for block rotations.