The University and the CBE program are committed to the principle that patients, health and disease must be viewed in the context of social, economic, political, and health system factors that significantly influence overall health. CBE helps provide this perspective. To achieve these objectives, Community Based Education has developed educational experiences with a variety of community programs throughout the state. In the coming years, we expect the number of participating community programs to continue to expand. Currently, medical students work with more than 300 community programs located in 61 Connecticut towns.
Students work with a community physician one afternoon a week.
Since they will work in this practice throughout their training, students learn about local communities and their resources as well as patient care. During the first year Students learn about the communities served by their practice and agencies providing services in the area. Each student then works on a health promotion activity with a community program. During the second year Students learn about home health assessment visits, home care programs and other resources for people with chronic illness. Each student then uses these skills to make a house call with a patient in their practice community.