THE STFM SPECIAL TASK FORCE ON THE FUTURE OF FAMILY MEDICINE: BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE MEDICAL HOME

COMPETENCY-BASED CURRICULUM FOR THE NEW MODEL (PATIENT-CENTERED MEDICAL HOME)

The competency-based curriculum (CBC) for the new model (patient-centered medical home or PCMH) is designed to offer a continuum of teaching and learning resources for predoctoral, residency, and preceptor/ teacher education in 4 important areas:

• group visits, led by Julie Schirmer (http://www.fmdrl.org/1415)

• advanced access, led by George Valko (http://www.fmdrl.org/1418)

• quality improvement, led by Peter Carek and Bill Shore (http://www.fmdrl.org/1417)

• the chronic care model, led by Jeff Susman (http://www.fmdrl.org/1416)

Each unit contains model goals, objectives, evaluation materials, checklists, teaching activities, and faculty development suggestions.

Recent efforts, such as the collaboration between the Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM) Clinical Group and the University of Minnesota, have resulted in a clearinghouse for pay for performance (P4P) developed by David Satin, MD (http://www.student.med.umn.edu/p4p/index.php) and the establishment of the STFM Group on the PCMH (chaired by John Rogers and Caryl Heaton), and resources for the PCMH (http://www.stfm.org/initiatives/future.cfm).

INITIATIVES FOR INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATES IN FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCIES

Recognizing that international medical graduates (IMGs) comprise a significant and increasing (approximately 40%) percentage of the family medicine workforce, STFM assessed these IMG’s needs through a survey (Simpson et al, forthcoming) and developed a related series of training workshops for entering residents and teaching resources. While the initial workshop format was successful, the number of participants was insufficient to sustain this approach. Instead, alternative resources to support IMGs have been developed, including instructional materials that program directors and faculty can use to educate their residents (eg, http://www.fmdrl.org/index.cfm?event=c.beginBrowseD&clearSelections=1&criteria=img#1613). The STFM IMG Initiative will be producing web-based materials for programs beginning in late 2009.

FAMILY MEDICINE PIPELINE PROJECT

The Family Medicine Pipeline Project (led by Janice Benson, Ellen Whiting, and David Pole) focused on the recruitment of a diverse workforce into family medicine (http://www.stfm.org/initiatives/pipeline.cfm). FutureFamilyDocs’ innovative web site provides valuable resources (eg, posters, talking points) that we can use to recruit high school students to family medicine (http://www.futurefamilydocs.org/). Other key accomplishments include the formation of an STFM Group on Family Medicine Pipeline, which first met at the 2009 Annual Conference and the development of resources on patient confidentiality, privacy and HIPAA rules for shadowing students. Additional activities include a national contest for clinicians to submit photos of themselves or colleagues talking with young patients and a collaboration with the National Area Health Education Consortium Organization (NAO).

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

The leadership workgroup, led by Terry Steyer (current STFM president), identified critical resources and gaps within the discipline by initially summarizing existing leadership development programs: (http://www.stfm.org/leadership/leadershipuser.html). This group also prepared a leadership survey which identified the greatest areas of need including financial management, grant writing, budgeting, working with the media, publishing, and advocacy skills. STFM was deemed as a key source of leadership training and will focus on “emerging leaders” in STFM groups and committees and leadership opportunities at STFM meetings. Care is being exercised to coordinate with other excellent leadership programs in the discipline.

SUMMARY

With limited funding, the STFM special task force on the future of family medicine has made substantive progress in addressing 4 focused areas of need within the discipline and built a strong foundation for the patient centered medical home of the future. Please use the resources our Society’s members have developed to enhance the future of our specialty.