The primary care track was incorporated within the traditional Pediatric Residency Program in 1995 because of the national focus on generalist medicine and primary care. This merger solidified the strong primary care emphasis for all pediatric residents, supplemented by funding from the Bureau of Health Professions and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. MCV's Children's Medical Center is evolving a program that will prepare residents to practice pediatrics in the current medical arena. Our focus of training has shifted from inpatient to ambulatory areas.
Residents form practice groups that extend throughout their three years.
Members from each group are responsible for coverage of their patients on the inpatient units and in their continuity practice, promoting a model of continuing care similar to the community. Patients with specialized problems increasingly are being incorporated into the practice groups. This improves the continuity of primary and specialty care for these patients and provides residents with experience managing complicated patients in the outpatient and other community settings. Our comprehensive primary and subspecialty care services are well positioned to provide the basis for this type of innovative training.