Primary Care Tracks in Medical Schools

Maribeth P Williams; Denny Fe Agana; Benjamin J Rooks; Grant Harrell; Rosemary A Klassen; Robert Hatch; Rebecca A Malouin; Peter J Carek

doi:10.22454/PRiMER.2019.799272

Primary Care Tracks in Medical Schools

PRiMER. 2019 Feb 8:3:3. doi: 10.22454/PRiMER.2019.799272. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Maribeth P Williams¹, Denny Fe Agana², Benjamin J Rooks³, Grant Harrell³, Rosemary A Klassen⁴, Robert Hatch³, Rebecca A Malouin⁵, Peter J Carek⁶

Affiliations

¹ University of Florida Department of Community Health and Family Medicine.
² Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville.
³ Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, University of Florida.
⁴ University of Florida College of Medicine.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University.
⁶ Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida.

Abstract

Introduction: With the estimated future shortage of primary care physicians there is a need to recruit more medical students into family medicine. Longitudinal programs or primary care tracks in medical schools have been shown to successfully recruit students into primary care. The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of primary care tracks in departments of family medicine.

Methods: Data were collected as part of the 2016 CERA Family Medicine Clerkship Director Survey. The survey included questions regarding the presence and description of available primary care tracks as well as the clerkship director's perception of impact. The survey was distributed via email to 125 US and 16 Canadian family medicine clerkship directors.

Results: The response rate was 86%. Thirty-five respondents (29%) reported offering a longitudinal primary care track. The majority of tracks select students on a competitive basis, are directed by family medicine educators, and include a wide variety of activities. Longitudinal experience in primary care ambulatory settings and primary care faculty mentorship were the most common activities. Almost 70% of clerkship directors believe there is a positive impact on students entering primary care.

Conclusions: The current tracks are diverse in what they offer and could be tailored to the missions of individual medical schools. The majority of clerkship directors reported that they do have a positive impact on students entering primary care.