The residents see the multidisciplinary team in action. In the schools, the NPs run the show. The doctors are less important, which is just fine for giving the FP resident a dose of humility. In their first year at Ravenswood, residents spend half a day each week at one of the centers during the pediatrics rotation. The focus is on taking a thorough health history, improving communication skills and helping teens make informed lifestyle decisions.
Residents also learn about confidentiality and what types of care require parental consent.
In year two, residents work in the centers for half a day each week during the pediatrics and community medicine rotations. They start providing more care on their own with input from a preceptor and other team members. In the third year, residents spend three or four half-days in the centers as part of the adolescent medicine rotation. They get more autonomy in directing care and may have more involved cases such as sports injuries or prenatal care, Feldman said. We work hard to make sure the residents get interesting patients and have time to get to know the kid.