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Curriculum

The curriculum of the Family Medicine Residency at Ball Memorial Hospital encompasses the traditional ACGME requirements and allows residents the flexibility to create a personalized educational experience.

Each resident will meet with their advisor during the intern year to discuss overall goals and desires for the residency and beyond. Residents may choose to follow a traditional curriculum consisting of 13 four-week block rotations with a variety of electives available during the second and third year. If a resident has an interest in a particular area of family medicine, such as obstetrics or sports medicine, the “curriculum track” templates offer an elective guide for residents to follow.

Obstetrics

Osteopathic manipulative therapy

Rotations

  • PGY 1

    Average of two or three half days of clinic per week on all rotations other than inpatient critical care (ICU) and night float.

    Inpatient OB rotation includes an additional half days in OB clinic at the local federally-qualified health center.

    PGY 1 residents have six Saturdays and six Sundays of 24-hour call. Call shifts include coverage of inpatient OB, inpatient pediatrics, and inpatient FMRC admits.

    PGY 1 residents receive 21 days of PTO.

    Rotation Duration Total weeks in year
    Inpatient adult medicine 3 blocks 12 weeks
    Obstetrics 3 blocks 9 weeks
    Inpatient pediatrics 1.5 blocks 6 weeks
    Outpatient pediatrics 1 block 4 weeks
    Night float   7 weeks
    ICU 1 block 4 weeks
    ED 1 block 3 weeks
    Surgical care 0.5 blocks 2 weeks
    Independent learning   1 week
    Outpatient family medicine 1 block 4 weeks
    TOTAL   52 weeks

     

    Sample Schedule
    Block 1 FMRC
    Block 2 OB/NF4
    Block 3 AIMS weekday
    Block 4 FMI/Surgery
    Block 5 ICU
    Block 6

    ED/NF3

    Block 7 Outpatient Peds
    Block 8 AIMS we/NF2
    Block 9 OB/NF1
    Block 10 PED/NF3
    Block 11 PEDS
    Block 12 FMI
    Block 13 OB/NF4
  • PGY 2

    Average of two to three half days of clinic per week on all rotations other than night float.

    Inpatient OB rotation includes an additional half days in OB clinic at the local FQHC.

    PGY 2 residents have four Saturdays and four Sundays of 24-hour call. Call shifts include coverage of inpatient OB, inpatient pediatrics, and inpatient FMRC admits.

    PGY 2 residents receive 21 days of PTO.

    Rotation Duration Total weeks in year
    Inpatient adult medicine 2 blocks 7 weeks
    Inpatient obstetrics 2.5 blocks 10 weeks
    Inpatient pediatrics 1 week
    Night float
    5 weeks
    Elective 3 blocks 11 weeks
    ED 1 block 4 weeks
    Palliative 1 block 4 weeks
    Independent learning   1 week
    MSK 1 block 4 weeks
    Dermatology 1 block 4 weeks
    Outpatient family medicine   1 week
    TOTAL   52 weeks

     

    Sample Schedule
    Block 1 FMI/AMB/NF/ped
    Block 2 OB weekend
    Block 3 Elective
    Block 4 Dermatology
    Block 5 AIMS weekend
    Block 6 NF/OB
    Block 7 Elective
    NF
    Block 8 MSK
    Block 9 Elective
    Block 10 Palliative
    Block 11 AIMS weekday
    Block 12 ED
    Block 13 OBWE/OB
  • PGY 3

    Average of three to four half days of clinic per week on all rotations other than night float.

    Inpatient OB rotation includes an additional half day in OB clinic at the local FQHC.

    PGY 3 residents have three Saturdays and three Sundays of 24-hour call. Call shifts include coverage of inpatient OB, inpatient pediatrics, and inpatient FMRC admits.

    PGY 3 residents receive 21 days of PTO.

    Rotation Duration Total weeks in year
    Inpatient adult medicine 1 block 5 weeks
    Outpatient pediatrics 1 block 4 weeks
    Inpatient pediatrics 1 block 5 weeks
    Night float   3 weeks
    Elective 4 blocks 16 weeks
    Obstetrics 1 block 3 weeks
    ED 1 block 4 weeks
    NICU 1 block 4 weeks
    GYN 1 block 4 weeks
    Outpatient family medicine 1 block 4 weeks
    TOTAL   52 weeks

     

    Sample Schedule
    Block 1 FMI/AMB/OB/NF
    Block 2 FMI
    Block 3 GYN
    Block 4 ED
    Block 5 Elective
    Block 6 OB/NF
    Block 7 Elective
    Block 8 Elective
    Block 9 Peds
    Block 10 NICU
    Block 11 Amb Chief
    Block 12 OP Peds
    Block 13 Elective

Call Schedule

Night Float

  • Seven weeks in PGY1, five weeks in PGY2, and three weeks in PGY3
  • Consists of shifts from 5 pm–7 am Monday through Friday
  • Phone triage, cross cover and admit OB/pediatrics/adult patients


Weekend Family Medicine call (throughout the year)

  • 24-hour shifts on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays
  • Phone triage, cross cover and admit OB/pediatric/adult patients


Jeopardy (Back-Up) Call (PGY2 and PGY3)

  • One week of call at a time for total of five weeks/year
  • Serve as back-up to PGY2/3 on call in case of illness, etc.

Didactics

  • Monday-Friday “Lunch and Learn” style educational activities including lecture, group discussion and gamification
  • Group Learning through real and simulated cases and discussions
  • Educational curriculum aligned with the ABFM exam blueprint
  • Opportunity to serve on our resident-led education committee
  • Procedure training workshops geared to PGY1 & PGY2 are integrated into curriculum

Procedure Training

Procedure training is staffed by faculty who provide hands-on learning. All residents, regardless of year in training, have the privilege of performing procedures on their clinic patients. We provide the opportunity to learn the following procedures:

  • C-sections (taught by OB physicians)
  • Casting/Splinting
  • Central Line Placement
  • Cervical Induction Balloon Placement
  • Circumcision
  • Colonoscopy
  • Colposcopy
  • Digital Block & Toenail Surgery
  • Endometrial Biopsy
  • Exercise Testing/Treadmill
  • Eye Foreign Body Removal
  • Hemorrhoid Banding & Excision/Anoscopy
  • Intubation
  • IUD Placement
  • IUPC/FSE/AROM/Cervical Check/Leopolds
  • Joint Injection/Aspiration
  • Knot Tying/Cyst Removal/I & D
  • Lumbar Puncture
  • Microscopy
  • Nasolaryngoscopy
  • Nexplanon
  • OB Laceration Repair
  • OB Ultrasound
  • Operative OB Delivery/Shoulder Dystocia
  • POCUS
  • Skin Biopsy/Cryo/Laceration Repair/Local Anesthesia
  • Spirometry
  • Vaginal deliveries
  • Vasectomy

This training is staffed by Family Medicine faculty who provide hands-on learning. All residents, regardless of year in training, have the privilege of performing procedures on their clinic patients.

Pathways of Distinction

Our residents have the opportunity to enhance their residency experience through participation in one or more Pathways of Distinction. These pathways represent a collection of activities, rotations, reading, and projects that provide additional educational opportunities for enhancement of their education. Residents who complete the requirements under a given pathway will be recognized at graduation for their completion.

  • Leadership
  • Women’s Health (Including Surgical Obstetrics)
  • Sports Medicine
  • Global Health
  • Behavioral Health