The continuity program provides a special experience for residents to observe the physical, intellectual and emotional growth, as well as the course of certain diseases and therapies in children over an extended period of time. Residents can choose from various clinics throughout the city of Boston that each serve a different cultural and socio-economic population. Each resident carries a group of patients specially designed to ensure broad exposure to multiple-age groups and diverse medical problems. Each week there are pre-clinic conferences to review topics pertinent to primary care pediatrics. These can include presentations from house officers, faculty preceptors and faculty consultants. During continuity clinics residents also engage in broader pediatric issues of advocacy. The ACT (Advocacy Clinical Training Program) at Children's Hospital is one such example.
Continuity sites are available in both hospital and community settings. In addition to typical primary care clinic experiences, there are a number of other clinic opportunities including a Latino clinic and an International Health Clinic at Boston Medical Center, primarily Spanish speaking clinics at Martha Elliot Health Center and East Boston Health Care Center, a young parent continuity clinic at Boston Medical Center and Children's Hospital, and various other multi-cultural, community-based health clinics.
Residents in the Categorical track devote one afternoon each week throughout the three years to their continuity practice. Residents are relieved of other clinical responsibilities during their scheduled continuity clinic time. Residents' clinics are rescheduled for an alternate day when the resident is post-call for their regular clinic day
In the first year, Primary Care track residents spend one-half day each week in their continuity sites. Beginning with the PL-2 year, Primary Care residents select an additional half-day experience to augment their training. They have the option of choosing a second continuity clinic or may select a project in urban health, advocacy, international health or public policy. In selecting a project, the Primary Care resident is coupled with a faculty mentor throughout the PL-2 and PL-3 years.
|
