Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Residency Curriculum

The IU School of Medicine Family Medicine Residency at Memorial Hospital – Jasper program provides comprehensive instruction in all aspects of family medicine to train exemplary family medicine physicians. The program curriculum includes traditional four-week block rotations along with longitudinal rotations, electives and weekly didactic sessions. Throughout their time in Jasper, residents will also have ample opportunities to learn about population health, quality improvement and physician leadership. Residents will have continuity clinic throughout their three years of training:

• PGY-1 – Two half days/week

• PGY-2 – Four half days/week

• PGY-3 – Four half days/week

  
  

In IIn addition, every resident will have a 4-week dedicated clinic rotation each year.

Incoming residents will participate in one block of Orientation/Intro to Family Medicine. This block introduces interns to the clinic, hospital and residency. Certifications in BLS, ACLS, NRP, PALS, ALSO and STABLE are achieved as a group. The month also includes Epic EMR training, GME orientation, skills labs and shadowing upper-level residents in both the outpatient and inpatient settings. 

Family Medicine Clinic

All residents are scheduled longitudinally at Memorial Health Family Medicine to care for their continuity patients; PGY-1 are assigned two shifts per week, PGY-2 and PGY-3 are assigned four shifts per week. A dedicated four-week, full-time rotation in the clinic is also scheduled during each year. Residents progress throughout training to increased efficiency and independence in caring for patients of all ages in a clinic setting. In addition to wellness, acute and chronic care, Memorial Health Family Medicine provides maternity care and a wide variety of outpatient procedures.   

Inpatient Medicine

Residents have eight blocks of inpatient medicine during training. Under the guidance of the hospitalist group which consists of physicians who are internists and family medicine, residents care for patients in the intensive care unit and on the regular medical floor. Residents participate in interdisciplinary rounds and interact with a variety of specialty consultants. In addition, residents provide coverage of medical units at night with an attending physician for one block of each year.

OB/Women’s Health

Throughout their training, residents will participate in two blocks dedicated to the care of maternity patients in both the outpatient setting and on the labor and delivery floor. Each resident will also provide coverage to the labor and delivery floor throughout the night for one block in years one and two. An additional block in the second year is dedicated to the care of gynecology patients. Through these rotations and in the continuity clinic, residents can expect to become well versed in procedures such as pap smears, IUD insertion and removal, and limited OB ultrasound.

Outpatient Pediatrics

Residents have two blocks in their first two years dedicated to ambulatory pediatrics in and office setting with pediatricians. Experiences include well child and sick child exams, as well as management of chronic medical conditions commonly seen in pediatric and adolescent patients.

Inpatient Pediatrics

During the first and second years, residents rotate on an inpatient pediatric service at Ascension St. Vincent in Evansville. IN. While participating in rounds with pediatric hospitalists, residents will experience a variety of medical conditions that require hospital admission. To reduce drive time residents may elect to stay in Evansville in provided housing while on this rotation.

Emergency Medicine

Residents gain emergency medicine experience through a rotation in both first and second year while working one-on-one with emergency medicine attendings. Memorial Hospital’s Level III Trauma Center provides care to nearly 30,000 patients of all ages each year. Residents become well-versed in completing emergency medicine procedures through their training.

General Surgery

On this rotation, the resident joins a general surgery team during their first year of training. The resident is a full and equal member of the team both in the operating room and physician office, performing patient evaluations, post-operative care of surgical patients, along with observation and assisting in common surgical procedures. 

Health Management Systems

During the PGY-2 year, residents have a dedicated rotation to learn about the business side of medicine. Time is spent with various hospital executives, department leaders and support staff, as well as attending various hospital and medical staff committee meetings to understand governance, regulatory compliance, quality improvement and operational decision-making. Residents also spend time at the local health department to gain experience in public health, prevention and community medicine.

Electives

In the specialty of family medicine there are many opportunities following graduation from a residency program.  With this in mind, the program at Jasper is designed to allow residents to design a program for themselves that will prepare them for the type of practice experience they want to have after graduation. PGY-2 residents have one block of elective time and PGY-3 residents have ten blocks of elective time. Residents work with their advisors to plan electives that will help them further their post training goals. Electives include medical specialties such as cardiology, pulmonology, gastroenterology and neurology; surgical specialties such as otolaryngology, podiatry and urology; as well as other opportunities including urgent care, pain management and obesity medicine.

Didactics

Didactics are held weekly on Wednesday afternoons. This is a protected learning time for residents. Along with the activities listed below residents will participate in discussions in the areas of medical humanities, ethics and health systems management.

• Journal club is held five times per year with each resident presenting an evidence- based article.  
• Each resident presents a case with an unusual presentation or outcome with the purpose of improving care and clinical decision making.
• Residents will participate in workshops to learn various skills. Workshops will use SIM models for some of the procedures taught to residents.
• Lectures on topics relevant to family medicine are provided by residency core faculty, specialist faculty, and other content experts within our hospital.
• IU School of Medicine and the Department of Family Medicine Grand Rounds
• Board review sessions are included to help prepare residents for their ABFM or AOBFP certification exam.

Resident Well-Being

The program places high importance on resident well-being. Wellness activities are regularly included in the weekly didactic schedule and all residents check-in with behavioral health faculty regularly. Multiple support resources are available, both locally as well as institutionally, so that anonymity can be provided as desired. Residents participate in an annual wellness retreat, have regular “Wellness Wednesday” afternoons throughout the year, and can attend program-sponsored social events that include resident families. Holiday parties and other events offer opportunities for residents to socialize with one another and faculty and staff which promotes an inclusive and supportive environment in which to train.