Family medicine
-
Many United States military personnel are not full-time service members. Because of their part-time service, these veterans may not self-report their military service during medical visits. Consequently, past military service can be overlooked when taking a social history. We developed a case to provide preclinical medical students patient interview experience wherein the diagnosis relied on identifying past military service. Our objective was to determine if medical record write-ups included social history details about occupational information after this innovation. ⋯ This case methodology specifically raised awareness of health issues related to military service and generally increased students' likelihood of identifying occupational risk factors when conducting the social history. The template for this military case will allow us to develop additional cases focusing on different occupational health issues to complement other organ systems blocks.
-
Identifying underperforming residents and helping them become fully competent physicians is an important faculty responsibility. The process to identify and remediate these learners varies greatly between programs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the remediation landscape in family medicine residency programs by investigating resident remediation characteristics, tools to improve the process, and remediation challenges. ⋯ Residents needing remediation are common, but most were successfully remediated within 12 months. Program directors wanted access to a standardized toolkit to help guide the remediation process.
-
Family physicians are positioned to provide care for transgender patients, but few are trained in this care during residency. This study examines associations between program directors' (PDs) perceptions/beliefs on transgender health care and inclusion of gender-affirming health care (GAH) in residency curriculum. ⋯ Barriers persist for training family medicine residents in GAH for transgender patients, but further training opportunities for faculty could help to decrease identified barriers. Further research should explore how best to increase family medicine faculty comfort/competence in educating residents in GAH.
-
Family medicine departments see elevating equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)* as socially necessary and as powerful in achieving core missions. The importance and timeliness of this longstanding issue in medicine are magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic with its disproportionate effect on communities of color and by civil unrest focused on racial justice. EDI plays out in three pillars: (1) care delivery and health, (2) workforce recruitment and retention, and (3) learner recruitment and training. ⋯ Ongoing Action: Application of an equity lens to department relationships, specific incidents, tools and education, policy review, and measures development. Invitation to Further Conversation Among Departments: EDI work can quickly create a shared intellectual framework and broadly engage people in taking a department down its developmental path. Operating principles for undertaking such work are offered for conversation among departments.