Advanced Primary Care Leadership
All residents benefit from training in advanced primary care practices. Our residency is known for training leaders in primary care redesign. A.F. Williams’ Primary Care Redesign model was featured in the New England Journal of Medicine for its promise in preventing physician burnout and in the Annals of Family Medicine for its impact on quality measures.
Since 2013, we have had a formal curriculum in advanced primary care. In addition to their clinical experiences, residents take part in two month-long rotations where they dive into various practice transformation topics so that they graduate with a strong understanding of the healthcare system, how to innovate within it, and how to advocate for change in areas where the current system fails. We believe these experiences prepare our graduates to be leaders in their field.
Advance Primary Care Leadership 1 (APCL 1) During this month-long block during the spring of their second year, residents learn alongside classmates in their track about the core components of advanced primary care models such as team-based care, care coordination, patient and family engagement, population management and health equity, quality improvement (QI), continuity and access, payment models and payment reform.
Residents also learn about the history of family medicine as a specialty and engage in experiential learning related to behavioral health skills and community medicine. The month-long curriculum is taught through a blend of lectures, projects, and visits to clinics with a variety of practice models. Residents also participate in continuity clinic throughout the month and choose a topic for their class QI project, to be implemented the following year.
Advanced Primary Care Leadership 2 (APCL 2) During their third year, each resident completes another month-long rotation dedicated to advanced primary care. In addition to immersing themselves in their clinical practice, residents participate in a variety of meetings at their clinic, take leadership of their class QI project, participate in our home visit program, and complete the STFM Course “Leading Change.” To maintain momentum on class QI projects and allow for a customized experience, residents at each clinic have APCL 2 in different months.
