FQHC – Mishawaka is a required rotation in the Care of the Underserved curriculum and can be taken as an elective in any curriculum.
At the completion of this rotation
The resident will:
- have an understanding of how to effectively care for underserved patients.
- have knowledge and skills needed to practice medicine in an underserved setting.
- have an awareness of the benefits of practicing within an interdisciplinary team.
- identify common barriers to care for patients and learn ways to navigate and overcome those barriers in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).
Objectives
At the completion of this rotation, the resident will have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the preceptor:
- the ability to perform an appropriate history and physical examination in an outpatient setting and to present these findings to another physician in an appropriate manner (PC).
- the ability to interpret appropriate data related to underserved medicine and prioritize cost-effective diagnostic testing, utilization of multidisciplinary resources, and consultations that will change the management of undifferentiated illness (PC).
- an awareness of psychosocial factors and other determinants of health amidst developing and implementing comprehensive plans to maintain and promote health (PC).
- reflective practices that facilitate the creation of an independent learning plan for personal growth and professional development (PBLI).
- compassion, respect and integrity; responsiveness to the needs of patients and society; accountability to patients, society and the profession; a commitment to excellence and ongoing professional development (P).
- sensitivity and responsiveness to a patient’s culture, age, gender and disabilities, recognizing personal biases and attempting to proactively minimize communication barriers (ICS).
- the ability to communicate effectively about patient care, learner responsibilities, and feedback with other health professionals as part of a healthcare team (ICS).
- the ability to make appropriate decisions to assure high-quality care in a cost-effective manner, recognizing the opportunities to advance this approach to care through advocacy efforts (SBP).
Implementation
Residents in the Care of the Underserved Track will have continual exposure to care contexts that are designed to meet the needs of underserved patients. During the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) – Mishawaka rotation, residents will have extensive opportunities to care for patients with a complex array of underlying medical and psychiatric comorbidities. Further, in addition to working with a physician preceptor, the resident will also have an opportunity to work closely with the clinical pharmacist and behavioral health workers at this FQHC. Specifically, residents will be invited to participate in behavioral health interventions and therapy sessions, having opportunity to directly observe as well as participate in these encounters. Through experiential learning opportunities, one-on-one teaching interactions, and the role modeling of staff, residents will explore the ways in which each member of a strong interdisciplinary team can offer unique support amidst caring for underserved patients.
Evaluation
The preceptor will complete an evaluation form at the end of the rotation assessing the resident’s success in meeting the rotation objectives as outlined in this curriculum. Residents will specifically be evaluated on the following ACGME Milestones:
- PC-1: Demonstrates Care of the Acutely Ill Patient
- PC-2: Demonstrates Care of the Patient with Chronic Illness
- PC-4: Demonstrates Ongoing Care of Patients with Undifferentiated Signs, Symptoms or Health Concerns
- PBLI-2: Demonstrates Reflective Practice and Commitment to Personal Growth
- PROF-1: Demonstrates Professional Behavior and Ethical Principles
- ICS-1: Demonstrates Effective Patient- and Family-Centered Communication
- SBP-4: Shows an Interest in Advocacy for Patients/Health System
