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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.

Tracks are offered to maximize preparation for future practice while providing well-rounded training. Residents will select a track around March of their PGY 1 year. Each track will meet the minimum requirements of the ACGME and ABFM. 

Tracks

Our Standard Track will be for physicians who are interested in learning full-spectrum family medicine. The track will be highly focused on continuity practice (with a stretch goal of 2,000+ patients).

Overview: Average of 2-3 half-days of clinic per week as a PGY 1, 3-4 half-days as a PGY 2, and 4-5 half-days as a PGY 3 on all rotations other than inpatient critical care (ICU) and night float.

PGY 1 Year

Block 1 — Family medicine essentials/pediatrics/family medicine inpatient/ambulatory/obstetrics
Block 2 — Family medicine inpatient
Block 3 — Family medicine inpatient
Block 4 — Pediatrics
Block 5 — Pediatrics
Block 6 — Outpatient Pediatrics
Block 7 — Surgery/night float
Block 8 — Obstetrics/night float
Block 9 — Obstetrics/night float
Block 10 — ICU
Block 11 — Emergency department/night float
Block 12 — Emeregency department/night float
Block 13 — Community medicine/night float

PGY 2 Year

Block 1 — Night float/obstetrics/pediatrics/family medicine inpatient
Block 2 — Night float/pediatrics/obstetrics
Block 3 — Night float/pediatrics/family medicine inpatient/obstetrics
Block 4 — Family medicine inpatient
Block 5 — Family medicine inpatient
Block 6 — Obstetrics
Block 7 — Palliative/night float
Block 8 — Dermatology/night float
Block 9 — Emergency department
Block 10 — Geriatrics
Block 11 — Med Selective
Block 12 — Elective
Block 13 — Elective

PGY 3 Year

Block 1 — Family medicine inpatient
Block 2 — Pediatrics
Block 3 — Community medicine/night float
Block 4 — Ambulatory/urgent
Block 5 — Urgent/ambulatory
Block 6 — Geriatrics/night float
Block 7 — Women's health
Block 8 — Orthopaedics/podiatry
Block 9 — Ear, noes and throat/ophthalmology
Block 10 — Med selective
Block 11 — Elective
Block 12 — Elective
Block 13 — Elective


Med selective options include: cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, infectious disease, nephrology, neurology, pulmonology.

Our high obstetrics Maternity Care Track will be for physicians who are interested in pursuing an obstetrics fellowship or actively practicing obstetrics after residency. Residents seeking the Maternity Care Track must apply and be selected.

Overview: Average of 2-3 half-days of clinic per week as a PGY 1 and 3-4 half-days as a PGY 2 and PGY 3 on all rotations other than inpatient critical care (ICU) and night float.

PGY 1 Year

Block 1 — Family medicine essentials/pediatrics/family medicine inpatient/ambulatory/obstetrics
Block 2 — Family medicine inpatient
Block 3 — Family medicine inpatient
Block 4 — Pediatrics
Block 5 — Pediatrics
Block 6 — Outpatient pediatrics
Block 7 — Surgery/night float
Block 8 — Obstetrics/night float
Block 9 — Obstetrics/night float
Block 10 — ICU
Block 11 — Emergency department/night float
Block 12 — Emergency department/night float
Block 13 — Community medicine/night float

PGY 2 Year

Block 1 — Night float/obstetrics/pediatrics/family medicine inpatient
Block 2 — Night float/pediatrics/obstetrics
Block 3 — Night float/pediatrics/family medicine inpatient/obstetrics
Block 4 — Family medicine inpatient
Block 5 — Family medicine inpatient
Block 6 — Obstetrics
Block 7 — Palliative/night float
Block 8 — Dermatology/night float
Block 9 — Emergency department
Block 10 — Geriatrics
Block 11 — Neonatology
Block 12 — Elective
Block 13 — Elective

PGY 3 Year

Block 1 — Family medicine inpatient
Block 2 — Pediatrics
Block 3 — Community medicine/night float
Block 4 — Ambulatory/urgent
Block 5 — Urgent/ambulatory
Block 6 — Geriatrics/night float
Block 7 — Women's health
Block 8 — Obstetrics
Block 9 — Maternal fetal medicine
Block 10 — Med selective
Block 11 — Elective
Block 12 — Elective
Block 13 — Elective

Med selective options include: cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, infectious disease, nephrology, neurology, pulmonology.

Our Acute Care Medicine Track will be for physicians who are interested in pursuing hospital, emergency or sports medicine. Residents seeking the Acute Care Medicine Track must apply and be selected.

Overview: Average of 2-3 half-days of clinic per week as a PGY 1, PGY 2 and PGY 3 on all rotations other than inpatient critical care (ICU) and night float.

PGY 1 Year

Block 1 — Family medicine essentials/pediatrics/family medicine inpatient/ambulatory/obstetrics
Block 2 — Family medicine inpatient
Block 3 — Family medicine inpatient
Block 4 — Pediatrics
Block 5 — Pediatrics
Block 6 — Outpatient pediatrics
Block 7 — Surgery/night float
Block 8 — Obstetrics/night float
Block 9 — Obstetrics/night float
Block 10 — ICU
Block 11 — Emergency department/night float
Block 12 — Emergency department/night float
Block 13 — Community medicine/night float

PGY 2 Year

Block 1 — Night float/obstetrics/pediatrics/family medicine inpatient
Block 2 — Night float/pediatrics/obstetrics
Block 3 — Night float/pediatrics/family medicine inpatient/obstetrics
Block 4 — Family medicine inpatient
Block 5 — Family medicine inpatient
Block 6 — Obstetrics
Block 7 — Palliative/night float
Block 8 — Dermatology/night float
Block 9 — Emergency department
Block 10 — Geriatrics
Block 11 — Acute care selective
Block 12 — Elective
Block 13 — Elective

PGY 3 Year

Block 1 — Family medicine inpatient
Block 2 — Pediatrics
Block 3 — Community medicine/night float
Block 4 — Ambulatory/urgent
Block 5 — Urgent/ambulatory
Block 6 — Geriatrics/night float
Block 7 — Women's health
Block 8 — Orthopaedics/podiatry
Block 9 — Urgent care
Block 10 — Med selective
Block 11 — Elective
Block 12 — Elective
Block 13 — Elective

Med selective options include: cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, infectious disease, nephrology, neurology, pulmonology. 

Acute care selective options include: emergency department, rural emergency department, hospitalist, critical care, sports medicing (local), anesthesia, radiology, interventional radiology, pain management, pediatric pulmonology.

Obstetrics

Osteopathic manipulative therapy

Call Schedule

Night float

  • Seven weeks in PGY 1, five weeks in PGY 2 and three weeks in PGY 3
  • Consists of shifts from 5 p.m.–7 a.m. Monday through Friday
  • Phone triage, cross cover and admit obstetrics/pediatrics/adult patients

Weekend family medicine call (throughout the year)

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

Jeopardy (back-up) call (PGY 2 and PGY 3)

  • One week of call at a time for total of five weeks per year
  • Serve as back-up to PGY 2/3 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 PGY 1 and PGY 2 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 obstetrics physicians)
  • Casting/splinting
  • Central line placement
  • Cervical induction balloon placement
  • Circumcision
  • Colonoscopy
  • Colposcopy
  • Digital block and toenail surgery
  • Endometrial biopsy
  • Exercise testing/treadmill
  • Eye foreign body removal
  • Hemorrhoid banding and excision/anoscopy
  • Intubation
  • IUD placement
  • IUPC/FSE/AROM/cervical check/leopolds
  • Joint injection/aspiration
  • Knot tying/cyst removal/I and D
  • Lumbar puncture
  • Microscopy
  • Nasolaryngoscopy
  • Nexplanon
  • OB laceration repair
  • OB ultrasound
  • Operative obstetrics delivery/shoulder dystocia
  • Point of care ultrasound
  • 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